TOKYO—Japan cleared one of the initial diplomatic hurdles for joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact negotiations, when Mexico became the first country involved in the talks to officially express its backing.The announcement, made during a visit by Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto to Tokyo, comes as welcome news to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe'

The Abe government’s decision to participate in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations on 15 March was a shock to Japan’s domestic farm lobby led by the Japan Agriculture organisation (JA).Even for the Abe government, the timing of the decision was more accidental than the result of careful planning.

It is easy to perceive why China is highly apprehensive at the thought of Japan joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

Canada trade minister Ed Fast said the next head of the World Trade Organization should be able to bridge differences between poor and rich nations.The new head will need to re-establish the organization’s credibility as an institution that can advance multilateral trade efforts at a time when countries have been pursuing regional trade agreements, Fast s

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a complex multinational regional agreement, previously known as the P4, that was created to facilitate economic relations between Brunei, Chile, New Zealand and Singapore. The TPP entered into force in 2006 and since then, the potential economic coverage of this free trade area has enlarged considerably. Currently, Australia, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mexico, The Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, the US and Vietnam are negotiating entrance terms.

TOKYO: Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday launched a government task force to prepare for Japan’s entry into the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade talks. The task force will be led by economic revitalization minister Akira Amari and initially have 65 members, NHK reported. Abe said Japan could not afford to miss negotiations on the TPP. “A huge economic bloc that would account for roughly a third of the world economy is about to begin.”

LOS ANGELES – Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto has expressed concern about Japan’s attempt to win tariff exemptions for rice and other farm products when it joins trade talks on the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement. In written replies to questions submitted by Kyodo News ahead of his four-day visit to Japan from Sunday, Mexico’s president said Japan should respect the principle of seeking to eliminate all tariffs on trade between TPP members.

NEW DELHI: Costa Rican foreign minister Anabel Gonzalez promises to push the Doha agenda at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) if she is appointed the next director general of the multilateral agency tasked with ensuring free and fair trade.