Japan will begin work on formulating its negotiating position on an issue that is likely to sharply pit industrialized countries against developing economies in the recently launched round of global trade liberalization talks -- the environment.
The process starts rolling at the end of March when the Foreign Ministry will convene a workshop on the issue of trade and the environment in Tokyo to hear opinions from government and private-sector experts, according to ministry sources.
Among the participants in the workshop will be scholars, business people, representatives of nongovernmental organizations and officials from other government ministries. Experts from the United States, Europe and other Asian countries will also be invited.