TRADE-TPP/JAPAN Pacific trade negotiators chase elusive final deal in tough talks

Record ID: 145531

  • Title: TRADE-TPP/JAPAN Pacific trade negotiators chase elusive final deal in tough talks
  • Date: 31st July 2015
  • Summary: MAUI, HAWAII, UNITED STATES (JULY 31, 2015) (REUTERS) **** WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **** JAPAN'S TRADE MINISTER, AKIRA AMARI, ENTERING ROOM (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPAN'S TRADE MINISTER, AKIRA AMARI, SAYING: "We would like to hopefully resolve the difficult issues at hand discussing them thoroughly so that this session will be the last meeting of the ministers."
  • Embargoed: 15th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA7FI7MP3O8P73DXLTDO996I8M
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Pacific Rim trade ministers neared the final spurt of negotiations on an ambitious free trade pact on Thursday (July 30), but differences over farm exports and monopoly periods for next-generation drugs kept them short of an elusive final deal.
    "We would like to hopefully resolve the difficult issues at hand discussing them thoroughly so that this session will be the last meeting of the ministers," Japan's Trade Minister, Akira Amari told media a briefing at the site of negotiations on Thursday (July 30).
    Ministers from the 12 countries negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which would cut trade barriers and set common standards for 40 percent of the world economy, are meeting in Hawaii to try to hammer out a deal.
    But major issues are still unresolved, including dairy exports, exclusivity periods for biologic drugs and intellectual property.
    "Intellectual property negotiations have not yet worked out due to differences among each nation," Amari told a room of mostly Japanese media, "I think that the negotiators will have to work through the night."
    A final news conference is scheduled for 1330 local time on Friday (1930 ET). Ministers appeared relaxed as they were garlanded with leis at the official photo.
    The TPP seeks to meld one-on-one negotiations over market access with a one-size-fits-all approach to rules.
    Japanese Trade Minister Akira Amari was schedule to go directly to a plenary session with ministers of the other 11 Pacific Rim nations following the briefing.
    Asked if it will be difficult to reach an broad agreement this time, he can't say anything definite how far the discussion can narrow gaps.
    "Our plenary is scheduled to go on for many hours, but I can't say either way for sure to what extent this (intellectual property issue) will move forward."
    About 650 officials from 12 nations are taking part in the negotiations on the Hawaiian island of Maui, with more than 150 media and numerous lobby groups and stakeholders also attending.
    Negotiators have stressed they are doing their utmost to close the deal this week but also warned that not all industries will get what they want, amid a flurry of last-minute appeals.
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