Acting Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Wendy Cutler, left, and her Japanese counterpart Hiroshi Oe prior to their talks for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade negotiations at the Foreign Ministry in Tokyo, on July 9, 2015. (Photo: AP)
(VOVworld) - Japan
and the US
resumed bilateral talks on the Pacific free trade agreement on Thursday ahead of a crucial ministerial meeting of all 12 participating nations as the Trans-Pacific Partnership talks resume negotiations.
Japan's deputy chief negotiator Hiroshi Oe said that this was the final round of negotiations prior to ministerial talks.
This new round of talks was followed by US President Barack Obama being granted fast track trade authority by US Congress last week, which allows Obama to have full rights at trade deals with outside partners and the US Congress can only vote to approve or dismiss without making any changes to the pact’s terms.
To pave the way for TPP finalization, high-ranking Japanese and US officials will exert efforts to resolve the remaining differences regarding agricultural products and the car industry.