Japan plans to propose talks on liberalizing trade in environment-related equipment and services within the 18-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, government officials said July 2.
Japan may also propose that APEC hold talks on the market-liberalization of precision machinery and tools, in which Japan has a competitive advantage in the international marketplace, the officials said, requesting anonymity. The officials said Japan's proposals will be presented to New Zealand, which currently chairs APEC's trade and investment committee, by the July 15 deadline, the date by which member economies must submit their proposals for market-liberalization talks in specific industrial sectors.
The officials said, however, that there are difficult technical problems that must be resolved before talks can begin on liberalizing the environment sector, citing, for example, the need to clarify the definition of environment-related equipment and services. Among other APEC members, Canada is also expected to propose market-liberalization talks for goods and services that fall into the environment category, the officials said.