Japan Today

NZ wants FTA talks with Japan

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

TOKYO - Visiting New Zealand farm minister Jim Anderton expressed hope Tuesday that Japan will start talks to conclude a free trade agreement with the country after completing its recently commenced FTA negotiations with Australia.

"We are hopeful that we will continue to be considered by the Japanese government as a potential free trade agreement partner. We have a lot of patience in this matter. We are not pushing ourselves as the top of the queue," the minister said.

New Zealand has repeatedly called on Japan to consider FTA talks, but Tokyo has been reluctant because imports of farm products from New Zealand such as beef and dairy products could damage the heavily protected Japanese agricultural sector.