Pascal Lamy, director general of the World Trade Organization, is expected to visit Japan in early July to sound out Tokyo as WTO members struggle to strike a deal by the end of that month, Japanese officials said Friday.

During a meeting Tuesday in Paris with Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Toshihiro Nikai, Lamy expressed his intention to visit Japan soon and hold talks with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in an effort to seek a breakthrough in the deadlocked trade negotiations.