JM News UK

By Ami Miyazaki TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan and the United States will hold cabinet-level trade talks from this weekend, but are unlikely to seal a final deal, seen as crucial for a broader trans-Pacific free trade pact, by a summit this month, Japanese Economy Minister Akira Amari said on Friday. U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman will discuss farm and car trade when he meets Amari in Tokyo on Sunday and Monday, Amari told reporters. A U.S.-Japan deal is considered vital to the success of a long-delayed Trans-Pacific Partnership pact, as these two economies, the world's biggest and third-biggest, account for about 80 percent of the economic output of the 12-member TPP. Amari said he did not expect to finalize the deal in his talks with Froman, but that it would be good if they could make enough progress to be welcomed by President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe when they meet in Washington on April 28.