The United States on Friday welcomed actions by Japan that allow it to join U.S.-led negotiations on an Asia-Pacific free-trade agreement. Japan has agreed to a “robust package of actions and agreements" to address U.S. concerns over access to its auto and insurance markets as part of a deal allowing Tokyo to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) talks, Acting U.S. Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis said. “We are pleased to welcome Japan's participation in the TPP negotiations pending a consensus agreement among the current TPP members and the completion of our respective domestic processes," Marantis said in a statement. All 11 countries currently participating in the TPP negotiations must agree to Japan's request to join, but winning U.S. support was Tokyo's biggest obstacle. Mexico, Chile, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, and Vietnam already have declared their intention to accept Japan into the negotiations. Canada, Peru, Australia, and New Zealand have not yet approved Japanese participation in the talks, but government officials in Tokyo said they expect the four countries to soon announce their approval.
