Japan is unlikely to be allowed to fully participate in the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks in late July due to U.S. congressional procedures, senior vice minister in charge of economic and fiscal policy Yasutoshi Nishimura indicated.
Speaking to reporters in Washington on Tuesday, Nishimura said, "We hope to secure a place where we can hold discussions properly, even a day or two."
His remarks suggest that Tokyo is not expected to join the July round of TPP negotiations, which are scheduled to last around 10 days.