Japan’s Seko to Visit US to Prepare for Economic Dialogue

March 7, 2017

Tokyo- Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Hiroshige Seko and new U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross agreed on Monday that Seko will visit the United States as early as possible to hold talks with the commerce chief in preparation for the launch of a bilateral economic dialogue.

Seko and Ross made the agreement in telephone talks, the first contact between them since Ross officially took up his post at the end of February.

The Japanese minister is considering making a U.S. trip in mid-March, sources familiar with the matter said.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed on the launch of the dialogue when they met at the White House on Feb. 10. The first session of the bilateral dialogue is expected to take place in Japan in mid-April.

"Ross and I reconfirmed the importance of Japan-U.S. economic relations," Seko told reporters after the 20-minute phone conversation. They did not take up specific trade areas, such as automobiles, the Trans-Pacific Partnership multilateral free trade agreement or bilateral trade talks, according to Seko.

Trump has officially decided to withdraw his country from the TPP, which was signed by Japan, the United States and 10 other countries in February 2016.

Ross, a famous investor and well versed in Japan affairs, is expected to play a key role in the Trump administration's trade policy.

The planned bilateral dialogue is expected to cover three areas--collaboration in macroeconomic policies including fiscal and monetary policy steps, cooperation in such fields as infrastructure and energy, and a bilateral trade framework. Jiji Press