BANDAR SERI BEGWAN: Twelve Pacific Rim countries began the 19th round of negotiations for creating a regional free trade pact in Brunei on Thursday.
Japan is also part of the talks on tariffs and other issues for the first time after joining last month.
Marking the start of the nine-day round of the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations.
A ministerial meeting opened in the morning as the countries sought to facilitate the talks toward their target of concluding a deal within this year, Kyodo news agency said today.
Before heading to the meeting, Japan's Trans Pacific Partnership Minister Akira Amari, told media today, "We will take into account the circumstances of each country and still raise the level of trade liberalization." (QNA)
