Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is expected to declare Japan's participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade negotiations at a news conference Friday, and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party plans to back his announcement, sources said Wednesday.
Abe is thought to be hoping to formally present his plan, and gain backing for it, at a general assembly of his ruling LDP on Sunday.
The LDP panel on the TPP continued discussions Wednesday to draw up demands for joining the trade talks, including measures to protect the politically sensitive, and protected, agricultural sector.