Trade negotiators have tentatively agreed to eliminate tariffs on an array of technology products valued at $1 trillion in global commerce, with Japan standing to benefit from ¥8 trillion of its annual exports becoming tariff-free, according to sources.
A final deal by the World Trade Organization's Information Technology Agreement signatories is expected Friday to newly include some 200 products such as magnetic resonance imaging machines and video game consoles, the sources said.
The Abe administration and Japanese companies welcomed the tentative accord. A Panasonic Corp. official said tariff removal would promote sales of its products in many countries.