Japan, Chile to begin free trade talks: report
Channel News Asia, 19 October 2005
Japan, Chile to begin free trade talks: report
TOKYO : Japan and Chile are likely to begin formal negotiations next year on an economic partnership centring on a free trade agreement (FTA), a newspaper said.
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Chilean President Ricardo Lagos are to confirm the launch when they meet in mid-November at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in South Korea, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun said.
Both governments are now studying the feasibility of beginning formal talks on an economic partnership, and Japan is looking to start the negotiations next year, with the goal of achieving an early signing, the business daily said.
Negotiating points for Japan include tariffs on automobile exports, while Chile is expected to demand lower tariffs on exports of farm and fishery products such as salmon, the Nihon Keizai said.
Chile is likely to be Japan’s first FTA partner in South America. Santiago has already signed such agreements with more than 30 countries and regions, including South Korea.
Japan is gradually shifting its trade policy from multilateral talks to bilateral negotiations and is seen as competing with China to win free trade partners.
Japan either has sealed FTAs with or is in discussions toward such pacts with Singapore, Mexico, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea, Indonesia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
— AFP /ct
