Japan’s Economy Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said today that trade discussion with US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer will begin around mid-June or later.
There was an agreement between Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and US President Donald Trump on setting up a new framework focusing on bilateral trade. But Motegi reiterated today that “we’re not thinking of signing a bilateral FTA.”
It’s believed that Japan’s priority is on TPP, the pact that it leads with 10 other nations. And Abe’s cabinet would want to pass relevant legislations through the parliament within the current session which ends on June 20. In addition, Japan has been clear that it opposes to a two way trade deal. On the other hand, Trump and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin showed no respect to Japan’s preference and persistently tried to force bilateral trade agreement on Japan.
