Iceland would like to hold talks with Japan on a free-trade accord in the near future, the Icelandic foreign minister said Wednesday.
David Oddsson said that during his meeting Tuesday with Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura, he expressed Iceland's "will to take up free-trade discussions between Japan and EFTA (European Free Trade Association) countries" that "can be studied hopefully in the not too distant future."
EFTA comprises Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein and has close relations with the 15-member European Union through the European Economic Area pact. The EFTA nations also have free-trade agreements with several East European and Mediterranean countries, as well as Mexico.