The United States and Japan will "move rapidly" to get a trade deal under a new framework aimed at intensifying bilateral trade consultations, U.S. Ambassador William Hagerty said, keeping pressure on Tokyo to open up protected markets such as agriculture.
President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed last month to set up the new framework focusing on bilateral trade led by U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Toshimitsu Motegi, head of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
"Trade is very important to us. I think we're going to move rapidly toward getting something done on trade," Hagerty said at a conference in Tokyo, adding that USTR staff had visited Japan "just this past week" to iron out details.