FTA negotiations with Japan to kick off in April

The Minister for Trade, Warren Truss, today welcomed the agreement by the Australian and Japanese Governments to hold the first round of negotiations on a bilateral Free Trade Agreement in Canberra from 23-24 April.

Mr Truss said that, as was the case with previous FTAs Australia had negotiated, the first round of talks will most likely concentrate on procedures and the framework for the negotiations.

"The agreement to negotiate an FTA between Australia and Japan was reached between Prime Ministers John Howard and Shinzo Abe in December last year. The agreement was a particularly important development," Mr Truss said.

"Japan is a key partner for Australia and by far our biggest export market."

Mr Truss said that both countries had agreed that the negotiations will begin with all products and issues on the table.

"As agreed by the two Prime Ministers, sensitivities on both sides are best handled through the negotiations.

"Any FTA will be comprehensive, WTO-consistent and concluded through a single undertaking.

"Concluding an FTA that delivers real commercial benefits will be a challenge but like the Commerce Agreement negotiated with Japan 50 years ago, we can expect an FTA to deliver big gains to both countries," Mr Truss said.

Media Inquiries: Minister Truss' office 02 6277 7420 - Departmental Media Liaison 02 6261 1555