The United States pressed Japan on Thursday to open its farm and auto markets to overseas competition and said it cannot expect special treatment in a Pacific free trade pact covering one-third of global imports and exports.
U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman told U.S. lawmakers that Japan's reluctance to lower trade barriers is holding up agreement on the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership, which will stretch from Asia to Latin America.
Despite intense talks between the United States and Japan, the two biggest economies in the negotiations, Japan has yet to come forward with an offer to close the gaps on trade in farm goods and autos.