LOC12:44
09:44 GMT
TOKYO, Nov 12 (KUNA) -- Japan and the US agreed on Tuesday to jointly work
toward the conclusion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade talks
by the end of this year, Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso said.
"The two sides shared the view that we should be coordinated with each
other to complete the TPP negotiations by the end of the year," Aso told a
press conference after his talks with visiting US Treasury Secretary Jack Lew.
The US-led 12-nation regional trade bloc, which accounts for almost 40
percent of global gross domestic product (GDP) and about one-third of all
world trade, calls for tariff elimination without exception.
At their meeting, Aso welcomed a US deal in October to prevent a default on
the country's debt, but urged Lew to resolve uncertainties over US fiscal
issues and avoid repeating a budget impasse over its debt ceiling, according
to Aso.
The agreement between the US government and Republican leaders reached last
month called for reopening the federal government with a temporary budget
until January 15 and to extend US borrowing authority until February 7.
Lew's visit to Japan, his first since assuming office in February, is part
of an Asian tour that will also take him to Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and
China. He also met with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Fiscal Policy Minister
Akira Amari in Tokyo. (end)
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KUNA 121244 Nov 13NNNN