Japanese FM to visit Mexico and Peru

Japan’s foreign minister is planning a visit to Latin American countries between late April and early May to explain his country’s position on joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations.Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced earlier in March that Japan will join ongoing talks on the free trade pact.The government decided to appoint a chief negotiator and set up a task force. It also decided to begin working-level talks with other countries participating in the TPP.As part of preparations to join the talks, Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida plans to meet with his counterparts in Mexico and Peru, which have already joined the negotiations, according to Japan’s (NHK WORLD) website.In his meetings, Kishida will seek an understanding of Japan’s position that a complete elimination of tariffs is not a precondition for joining the talks. He will explain Japan’s concerns that the country’s agriculture will be hit hard by the TPP.