Chief Negotiators from 11 TPP Nations Begin Talks in Japan

Hakone, Kanagawa Pref., July 12 (Jiji Press)--Chief negotiators from Japan and 10 other signatories of the Trans-Pacific Partnership started a meeting in Japan on Wednesday to seek ways to bring the TPP free trade agreement into force. It is the first time that Japan has hosted a meeting related to the TPP multilateral free trade pact. The latest gathering, held in the hot spring resort town of Hakone in Kanagawa Prefecture, southwest of Tokyo, comes at a time when momentum for promoting free trade is increasing, after Japan and the European Union reached a broad economic partnership agreement last week. The 11 countries are set to hold plenary talks through Thursday, aiming to clarify issues that need to be solved to put the TPP into effect without the presence of the United States, which exited the TPP framework in January under U.S. President Donald Trump, sources familiar with the situation said. At Wednesday's meeting, some countries proposed concrete measures for realizing early effectuation of the TPP. Chief negotiators spent most time discussing technical issues, such as those relating to international law, the sources said. While some countries called for reviewing agreements on trade and investment rules under the TPP, no participant demanded the renegotiation of tariff abolitions and reductions, the sources said. The 11 countries aim to reach agreement on the effectuation of the TPP by November, when a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum will be held in Vietnam, a TPP member. Japan's chief TPP negotiator Kazuyoshi Umemoto, chair of the latest TPP gathering, said at the latest session that Japan is resolved to promote discussions for an agreement by November. Before the plenary session, Umemoto held bilateral talks with his counterparts except New Zealand representatives, who arrived late in Hakone. Many chief negotiators welcomed the Japan-EU agreement on an EPA, as the trade pact could prompt the United States to consider returning to the TPP, said sources with access to the bilateral talks. While refraining from public statements, some countries appear discontent with rules for the protection of intellectual property rights, which were strongly demanded by the United States, and ready for reviews of market liberalization for certain sectors, the sources said. END