ID :
150975
Wed, 11/24/2010 - 08:00
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/150975
The shortlink copeid
Japan, Australia agree to resume free trade talks early next year+
CANBERRA, Nov. 23 Kyodo - Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara and Australian Trade Minister Craig Emerson agreed Tuesday to resume talks on a bilateral free trade agreement early next year during their meeting in Canberra.
Maehara also met separately with Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd, who told a joint
conference among the three ministers that Australia is prepared to provide
Japan with a stable supply of rare earth elements in the long-term.
The Japanese foreign minister said Rudd's offer is good news for Japan,
alluding to the situation in which China has recently stalled exports to Japan
of the elements, which are vital to manufacturing hybrid vehicles, mobile
phones and other high-tech products.
Maehara, seeking to show strong commitment to the FTA negotiations with
Australia, told Emerson that Japan is ready to work with its domestic
agricultural industry on measures to open up the sector, Japanese officials
said, with Emerson welcoming the move.
Japan has held 11 rounds of FTA talks with Australia, a major farm exporter,
since April 2007. But Japan's heavy protection of sensitive agricultural
products -- including dairy, beef, wheat and sugar -- has stalled the
negotiations since April.
During their meeting, Maehara and Emerson also discussed multilateral FTA talks
involving Australia, the United States and seven other Asia-Pacific economies,
as well as cooperation in the development of such resources as rare earth
metals, coal and liquefied natural gas in Australia, according to the
officials.
Emerson welcomed Japan's recent decision to start consultations with the
negotiating countries of a U.S.-backed trans-Pacific free trade initiative,
called the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
On Australia's continued calls on Japan to stop its scientific whaling program,
Rudd played down the request by saying there are no countries that have no
disagreements at all, with the two sides agreeing not to let the issue hamper
bilateral relations.
Maehara also made a courtesy call on Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard
before heading back to Japan.
==Kyodo
Maehara also met separately with Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd, who told a joint
conference among the three ministers that Australia is prepared to provide
Japan with a stable supply of rare earth elements in the long-term.
The Japanese foreign minister said Rudd's offer is good news for Japan,
alluding to the situation in which China has recently stalled exports to Japan
of the elements, which are vital to manufacturing hybrid vehicles, mobile
phones and other high-tech products.
Maehara, seeking to show strong commitment to the FTA negotiations with
Australia, told Emerson that Japan is ready to work with its domestic
agricultural industry on measures to open up the sector, Japanese officials
said, with Emerson welcoming the move.
Japan has held 11 rounds of FTA talks with Australia, a major farm exporter,
since April 2007. But Japan's heavy protection of sensitive agricultural
products -- including dairy, beef, wheat and sugar -- has stalled the
negotiations since April.
During their meeting, Maehara and Emerson also discussed multilateral FTA talks
involving Australia, the United States and seven other Asia-Pacific economies,
as well as cooperation in the development of such resources as rare earth
metals, coal and liquefied natural gas in Australia, according to the
officials.
Emerson welcomed Japan's recent decision to start consultations with the
negotiating countries of a U.S.-backed trans-Pacific free trade initiative,
called the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
On Australia's continued calls on Japan to stop its scientific whaling program,
Rudd played down the request by saying there are no countries that have no
disagreements at all, with the two sides agreeing not to let the issue hamper
bilateral relations.
Maehara also made a courtesy call on Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard
before heading back to Japan.
==Kyodo
