A free-trade agreement between Japan and Malaysia took effect Thursday, with the two countries ready to scrap tariffs on essentially all industrial goods and most agricultural, forestry and fishery products within 10 years.

To mark the launch of the FTA, the two nations held their first joint committee meeting the same day at the Foreign Ministry's Iikura guesthouse in Tokyo to discuss implementation details.

Japan's team at the meeting included Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Toshihiro Nikai, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Shoichi Nakagawa, Foreign Minister Taro Aso and Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki. Malaysia's delegation was led by International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz.