Board Thread:News and Announcements/@comment-4848837-20140410010939/@comment-11255996-20140413114014

The tpp as failed look at this article I found from fan fiction friends Jiji Press Japan and the United States failed to resolve their differences over key bilateral trade issues under the proposed multilateral Trans-Pacific Partnership during two-day ministerial talks in Tokyo that ended on Thursday.

Following the talks, Akira Amari, minister in charge of TPP affairs, and U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman separately told reporters that they made some progress but considerable gaps remain over key issues.

“Landing points for key issues have not yet come into sight,” Amari said.

Amari and Froman agreed that the two countries will continue working-level talks until the weekend.

During their talks, the ministers tried to find a breakthrough in the stalled negotiations on farm tariffs and auto trade issues, ahead of U.S. President Barack Obama’s visit to Japan in late April.

Tokyo and Washington are aiming to reach a broad bilateral accord over the TPP by the time Obama and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe meet on April 24.

Still, Amari said it remains to be seen if the two sides can reach a broad accord before the bilateral summit.

Froman said, “We made some progress,” but added that “considerable differences” remain.

On the timing of concluding the bilateral talks, he said, “The substance of the negotiations should determine the timetable.”

Froman said it is important for both sides to recognize the importance of the TPP to their economies, the region and the global economy, and take steps necessary to achieve the high-standard, ambitious and comprehensive agreement.

Amari and Froman began their second-day session at 8:30 a.m. Thursday after holding 11-hour marathon talks the previous day. During a lunch break, Amari had talks with Abe and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga.

Regarding the five farm product categories that Japan aims to keep tariffs on, Amari is believed to have proposed lowering the tariffs on U.S. beef, instead of removing them, similar to an agreement on Australian beef.

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The Yomiuri Shimbun U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman talks to reporters after the TPP talks in Tokyo on Thursday. Japan and Australia agreed earlier this week that the Japanese tariffs on chilled Australian beef will be reduced to 23.5 percent in the 15th year after the two countries’ planned economic partnership agreement takes effect. The tariff rate for frozen beef will be cut to 19.5 percent in the 18th year.