Think of it as entering a long tunnel with no light at the other end anywhere in sight.
A joint Japanese-Mexican study group will meet for the first time in Mexico next month to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral economic relations, including the possibility of concluding a free-trade agreement.
The study group, comprising about 10 government officials, academics and business people from each side, will try to compile a report on its findings by next summer, possibly paving the way for the two countries to launch negotiations on an FTA.