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Japan

Japan, India agree to conclude dialogue involving FTA in 1 yr
7-Jan-2005 Kyodo
Japan and India agreed Thursday to conclude in one year the ongoing dialogue on economic cooperation, which involves the possibility of signing a free trade agreement, Japan’s trade minister Shoichi Nakagawa said.
Agriculture hindering S. Korea-Japan FTA talks: official
28-Dec-2004 Yonhap
Agriculture issues are holding up progress in free trade agreement (FTA) talks between South Korea and Japan, a Korean government official said Monday.
Japan should entertain Swiss offer when planning its FTA strategy
27-Dec-2004 Japan Times
Japan has been lagging behind other industrialized nations in pursuing bilateral or regional agreements. It now needs a strategy as it tries to catch up with the global trend.
Malaysia, Japan one step closer to FTA
25-Dec-2004 Asahi Shimbun
Japan and Malaysia on Friday took a step closer to reaching a free trade agreement, clearing a key hurdle related to the agricultural, forestry and fisheries sector, government sources said.
Japan adopts FTA policy focusing on partners in Asia
22-Dec-2004 Japan Times
The government on Tuesday approved a basic plan to promote free-trade agreements, prioritizing accords with Asian trading partners to help build an East Asian community. It also adopted a set of 12 criteria to choose potential FTA partners, envisioning future negotiations with trading partners outside East Asia.
Japan panel urges steps to speed free trade accords
20-Dec-2004 Reuters
Japan needs to work on loosening restrictions in domestic agriculture and labour and to work effectively to more swiftly forge free trade agreements (FTAs), the government’s top advisory panel said on Monday.
Japan proposes FTA talks with South Korea in January
18-Dec-2004 Channel News Asia
Japan’s Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura proposed Saturday Japan and South Korea hold talks on a free trade agreement (FTA) as early as January next year.
Japan-S. Korea FTA faces stormy ride
18-Dec-2004 Yomiuri Shimbun
Negotiations to conclude a free trade agreement between Japan and South Korea are expected to face tough going because of ongoing disputes in specific areas of bilateral trade.
Japan, RI plan new investment, trade deal
16-Dec-2004 Jakarta Post
The governments of Japan and Indonesia are mulling a new economic agreement, which would see the latter offering Japanese firms incentives to invest here.
Twelve-country report on FTAs
15-Dec-2004 ANN
A report on the status of FTA fever in 12 Asian countries: Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.
Asian free trade vogue could heat up
12-Dec-2004
Free trade agreements are flying around East Asia these days, with even India, from South Asia, getting a piece of the action.
Mazda to start selling cars in Mexico; planned FTA helps
12-Dec-2004 Wall Street Journal
Mazda Motor Corp. has set up a new unit in Mexico to start selling vehicles there, taking advantage of the scheduled implementation of a free trade agreement between Japan and Mexico next year.
FTA with Thailand opens can of worms for automakers
10-Dec-2004 AAN
The Japanese government has urged Thailand to lift tariffs on car imports as part of its efforts to conclude a free trade agreement. At the same time, Japanese automakers, whose affiliated firms take up most of the Thai auto market, are cautious about the FTA because it could cause fierce competition between the same Japanese car models.
Japan, Philippines FTA shows foreign worker hurdles
7-Dec-2004 Reuters AlterNet
Japan and the Philippines on Monday clinched a broad free trade agreement (FTA) that would include letting a trickle of nurses into Japan to help cope with a shortage.
EIU: Free-trade free-for-all
7-Dec-2004 EIU ViewsWire
If proof were needed that an Asian free-trade "arms race" has begun in earnest, then the 10th ASEAN summit in Vientiane on November 29th-30th provided it in abundance. The highlight of the summit was the signing of an FTA between China and ASEAN, but equally striking was the number of other trade pacts that were, variously, agreed, worked on or proposed during the meeting in the Lao capital.
Driving a hard bargain: Trade agreements easier said than done
24-Nov-2004 Asahi
Japan is proving a tough negotiator for countries with their hopes pinned on FTAs.
Japan, Philippines reach FTA accord
20-Nov-2004 Japan Times
Japan and the Philippines reached a basic agreement for a bilateral free-trade agreement after striking a deal on the stickiest issue — steel tariffs.
Japan, Chile to set up joint FTA study board
14-Nov-2004
Japan and Chile are expected to set up a joint study board aimed at concluding a free trade agreement.
Japan, Thailand edge toward free-trade deal, without rice
11-Nov-2004 Kyodo
Trade negotiators from Japan and Thailand resumed free-trade talks Monday after Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra decided to withdraw rice from the negotiating table.
Free trade talks : Japanese protesters cry fowl
11-Nov-2004 The Nation
Chicken farmers from Japan have descended on Bangkok this week to lobby for the withdrawal of poultry products from free-trade talks, following the success of Japanese farmers in getting Thailand to drop rice.