1st ministerial meeting for 16-nation free trade pact

1st ministerial meeting for 16-nation free trade pact

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei - Japanese trade minister Toshimitsu Motegi answers a reporter's question in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei, on Aug. 19, 2013, after attending the first minister-level negotiations between the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and their six regional partners for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership free trade pact.

1st ministerial meeting for 16-nation free trade pact

1st ministerial meeting for 16-nation free trade pact

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei - Japanese trade minister Toshimitsu Motegi (C) attends a meeting in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei, on Aug. 19, 2013, as the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and their six regional partners begin their first minister-level negotiations for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership free trade pact.

1st ministerial meeting for 16-nation free trade pact

1st ministerial meeting for 16-nation free trade pact

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei - Japanese trade minister Toshimitsu Motegi attends a meeting in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei, on Aug. 19, 2013, as the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and their six regional partners begin their first minister-level negotiations for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership free trade pact.

U.S. envoy expresses concern about idea of E. Asia-wide FTA

U.S. envoy expresses concern about idea of E. Asia-wide FTA

TOKYO, Japan - U.S. Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer speaks at a Tokyo hotel on April 19. He expressed concern about a proposal by Japan's trade minister to create a 16-nation free trade zone in Asia, saying it could damage U.S. interests in the region.

U.S. envoy expresses concern about idea of E. Asia-wide FTA

U.S. envoy expresses concern about idea of E. Asia-wide FTA

TOKYO, Japan - U.S. Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer speaks at a Tokyo hotel on April 19. He expressed concern about a proposal by Japan's trade minister to create a 16-nation free trade zone in Asia, saying it could damage U.S. interests in the region. (Kyodo)