Akira Amari, Japan's minister in charge of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), intends to travel to the United f States this weekend for discussions with U.S. officials, in a signal that the U.S. and Japan are seeking to advance the TPP talks ahead of a Feb. 22-25 ministerial meeting in Singapore. The U.S. and Japan are trying to arrange a meeting between U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman and Minister Amari prior to the Singapore ministerial, a USTR spokesman said yesterday (Feb. 13). "We understand that [Minister] Amari is currently seeking Diet consent to visit Washington this weekend for such a meeting," the spokesman said. An informed source explained that any member of the Diet wishing to travel overseas during a legislative session must first obtain consent to do so.
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