Japan, US kick off TPP talks on deadlock issues

TOKYO - Japan and the United States on Monday resumed their bilateral talks on deadlock issues related to the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade talks.

The three-day working level meeting will cover issues over tariffs on key farm products such as beef and pork and trade barriers on the auto sector, according to local media.

Japan is considering drastically reviewing tariffs on US beef and pork, but it wants to introduce safeguard measures should imports of the products surge under the TPP, reported Japan's Kyodo News, citing sources involved in the talks. The report quoted the sources as saying that Tokyo and Washington have yet to agree on details.

The 12 negotiating members of TPP will meet in Ottawa, Canada, Thursday and Japan and the United States want to narrow their gaps before the assembly.