Japan and Chile agree to speed negotiations
AP, February 24, 2006
Japan and Chile Agree to Speed Negotiations
TOKYO (AP) — Japanese and Chilean officials agreed to continue talks aimed at forging a free trade accord swiftly, government officials said Friday.
Japan wrapped up two days of negotiations with Chile, the first South American nation to hold such talks with Japan, according to an official from the Foreign Ministry who spoke condition of anonymity in line with ministry policy.
Both countries agreed to speedily negotiate for a free trade agreement during their first round of talks and hold working-level talks in April in either country and talks attended by chief negotiators in mid-May in Santiago, she said.
Seiichi Kondo, Japanese ambassador in charge of international trade and economy, led the Japanese team in the talks at the Foreign Ministry, while the Chilean side was headed by Carlos Furche, vice minister for trade.
After nearly a year of a joint feasibility study of a free trade agreement, Japan and Chile agreed last November to launch formal FTA talks.
Japan has free trade agreements with Singapore and Mexico, while Chile has FTAs with more than 30 partners, including the United States and the European Union.
Japan exported 66.4 billion yen (US$562.71 million; euro473.86 million) worth of products, mostly automobiles and auto parts, to Chile in 2003, while Japan imported 304.1 billion yen (US$2.58 billion; euro2.17 billion), mainly copper ore, salmon and pork, from Chile, according to Shoji Zushi of the Foreign Ministry’s economic partnership division.
Japan is also negotiating for FTAs with Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia.
