Talks about a 12-nation Pacific Rim trade pact
have been bogged down as the United States tried to persuade
Japan to lower trade barriers.
Froman said on Thursday it was time for Japan "to step up to the
plate" and open its markets, which will then pave the way for an
agreement on the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Acting Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Wendy Cutler had already
been scheduled to visit Tokyo next week as bilateral talks have
accelerated ahead of a visit to Japan later this month by
President Barack Obama.
(Reporting by Krista Hughes; editing by Sandra Maler and Eric
Walsh)
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
![](column_spacer.png) |