Japan and the United States will hold a third round of talks on extending the 1995 Auto and Auto Parts Pact on Dec. 18 and 19 in San Francisco, International Trade and Industry Minister Takeo Hiranuma said Tuesday.
Hisamitsu Arai, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry's vice minister for international affairs, will head the Japanese side in the two-day vice-ministerial-level meeting to discuss the future of the existing bilateral agreement, which expires at the end of the year.
However, Hiranuma said the two sides are only likely to end up exchanging opinions since the ongoing legal wrangling over the U.S. presidency makes it difficult for the U.S. side to get ready for the bilateral talks.
"The U.S. presidential election is not yet over. (The talks) will be held at a time when either the Democratic or Republican party is fully ready for the talks. Our position is to listen to the argument made by the U.S.," Hiranuma said.
Asked about prospects for an extension, Hiranuma suggested it is possible that the U.S. may propose a grace period after it expires, thereby giving more time for the two nations to discuss the issue. In that case, he said, Japan will have to decide on its response after taking the current political situation into consideration.