News

Some progress in TPP negotiations

Officials report some progress was made in recent negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement.  But they say there are still significant areas of disagreement, including the United States’ insistence that Japan lower its barriers to agricultural imports.

Following a recent TPP negotiating session in Australia, Japan’s economic minister said that while there is “no prospect for an agreement on market access at the moment”, he does anticipate the U.S. and Japan will be able to reach a compromise in further trade negotiations.

The U.S. is pressuring Japan to lower barriers to agricultural imports, but Japan wants to protect sensitive products, including pork, beef, dairy and sugar.