HONOLULU – President Barack Obama welcomed Japan’s decision to join negotiations for a U.S.-led trans-Pacific free-trade agreement, saying the move may mark a major milestone in deepening bilateral economic ties.
“Eliminating the barriers to trade between our two countries could provide an historic opportunity to deepen our economic relationship, as well as strengthen Japan’s ties with some of its closest partners in the region,” Obama, referring to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, told Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda during a meeting in Honolulu on Saturday.
Noda said Japan has begun the process of easing import restrictions on U.S. beef imposed over fears of mad cow disease, a senior Japanese official said.
Noda also reported that Japan is preparing to present a key report to the Okinawa Prefectural Government in December in an effort to push ahead with the stalled relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma within Okinawa.
Obama welcomed these measures, the official said.
Noda said despite skepticism in Japan over the TPP, “I made the decision (to join the negotiations) to rebuild Japan and open the future for a prosperous and stable Asia and the Pacific,” according to the Japanese official.
Noda was quoted as telling Obama that he seeks Obama’s cooperation when Japan begins consultations with the United States and other TPP members on entering the free-trade talks.
Obama replied that Washington will cooperate with Japan in future consultations, the official said.
According to the White House, Obama welcomed Noda’s statement that Japan would put all goods, as well as services, on the negotiating table for trade liberalization.
Tokyo, however, later asked Washington to correct its press briefing on Noda’s remarks.
Japanese officials said Noda had just explained the government’s basic policy in general on a comprehensive economic partnership.
Obama said he will instruct U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk to begin the domestic process of considering Japan’s candidacy, including consultations with Congress and with U.S. stakeholders on specific issues of concern in the agricultural, services and the manufacturing sectors.
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