Full-Scale Talks on Britain's TPP Membership Begin

Tokyo, Sept. 28 (Jiji Press)--Full-scale talks started Tuesday on whether to allow Britain to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade deal. Officials from Japan, Australia and other TPP members held the first working group meeting on the matter online to hear measures to be taken by Britain to abide by related rules. The meeting did not take up the applications made recently by China and Taiwan to join the TPP. A Japanese government source said that the talks with Britain will help form a precedent that does not allow for TPP rule changes. There are concerns that China will try to create exceptions to TPP rules in favor of it, a Japanese economic ministry official said. TPP rules cover tariff reductions and exemptions on agricultural and fisheries products and e-commerce. A country or region willing to join the deal needs to fully accept those rules. Britain has promised to comply with the rules, sources familiar with the talks said. The country plans to carry out necessary law revisions. Tuesday's meeting, held behind closed doors, was chaired by Takehiro Kagawa, Japan's chief TPP negotiator. END