WASHINGTON (Kyodo) Florida Gov. Rick Scott said Wednesday he will reject federal money for a high-speed rail project, likely sinking Japan's chance of selling shinkansen technology to the state.

The expected cancellation of Florida's railway plan is not only a blow to the Barack Obama administration but also to Central Japan Railway Co. (JR Tokai), which had planned to bid for the project, as well as to Japanese transport officials with high hopes of exporting shinkansen technology.

The announcement by the fiscally conservative governor came after Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara swung by Florida last month to pitch the bullet-train system to Scott.