Tokyo, Washington affirm early trade deal after Japan poll

June 14, 2019

Washington--The Japanese and U.S. governments confirmed at a ministerial meeting on Thursday that they are aiming to announce the results of their trade negotiations at an early date after this summer's House of Councillors election in Japan.

The two sides will work to hold another ministerial trade session before a Group of 20 summit takes place in the western Japan city of Osaka on June 28-29.

The latest meeting was held between Toshimitsu Motegi, Japanese minister in charge of the bilateral trade talks, and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer in Washington.

"We have the same goal from the beginning of producing results promptly after the Upper House election," Motegi told a press conference following the three-hour meeting with Lighthizer.

Motegi said he and the U.S. trade chief are expected to review progress in the trade negotiations at their next meeting, before Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and U.S. President Donald Trump hold bilateral talks on the sidelines of the G-20 summit.

At their summit in Tokyo late last month, the two leaders agreed to accelerate the bilateral negotiations, while Trump mentioned a possible announcement of a trade deal in August.

At the Washington meeting, Motegi and Lighthizer had talks on issues including the liberalization of Japan's agricultural market and the abolition or reduction of U.S. automotive tariffs.

"We had candid talks and deepened our understandings," the Japanese minister said.

Both sides also agreed to spur working-level talks to resolve technical issues. "Issues for ministerial-level talks are becoming clearer," Motegi said. Jiji Press