Japan and the United States will resume next week in Tokyo auto trade talks connected to the Pacific free trade initiative, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said Friday.

During a two-day meeting next Wednesday and Thursday, Takeo Mori, Japanese ambassador in charge of economic diplomacy, and Acting Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Wendy Cutler will aim to bridge gaps over nontariff measures in the auto sector, which has been one of the sticking points in the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade talks.

The TPP involves Japan, the United States and 10 other countries, but solving problems between Tokyo and Washington -- the two biggest economies in the TPP framework -- is seen as vital to advance the broad negotiations.

Bilateral talks on the issue of market access for agricultural products, which is being negotiated through a separate channel, will not take place.

Cutler and Hiroshi Oe, deputy chief negotiator for the TPP, are expected to resume talks over tariffs on agricultural products in September.

Source: Kyodo

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