Japan begins studies on FTAs with US, EU
Japan Today
Japan begins studies on FTAs with U.S., EU
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
TOKYO - Japan has begun considering bilateral free trade agreements with both the United States and the European Union, with specific plans, trade ministry officials said Tuesday. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry plans to launch studies this fall by the private sector of Japan and the United States for a bilateral FTA, the officials said.
METI hopes to elevate the studies to an intergovernmental level in fall next year, they said. If the private-sector and intergovernmental studies proceed smoothly, Japan and the United States are expected to start FTA negotiations "around the summer of 2009 after the launch of a new U.S. administration," a senior METI official said.
