Japan, RI start 2nd round of FTA talks

Japan, RI start 2nd round of FTA talks

TOKYO: Japan and Indonesia started a second round of talks here on Tuesday on a free trade agreement.

About 100 delegates were due to participate in the four-day meeting, among them Japanese deputy foreign minister Mitoji Yabunaka and former Indonesian ambassador to Japan Soemadi Brotodiningrat, a foreign ministry official said.

The two Asian nations agreed in July to begin working towards the signing of a comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, which includes trade in goods and services, investment, movement of people and competition policies.

In the joint study by officials of both countries ahead of the official talks, Japan requested tariff elimination of auto and auto-parts industries as well as the improvement of market access in Indonesia. -- AFP