EU, Japan trade chiefs

EU, Japan trade chiefs

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese trade minister Toshimitsu Motegi (R) shakes hands with EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht at the ministry in Tokyo on Nov. 18, 2013.

Japanese trade minister, EU trade commissioner

Japanese trade minister, EU trade commissioner

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Toshimitsu Motegi (L) and European Union Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht hold a press conference in Brussels, Belgium, on Sept. 24, 2013.

EU trade chief De Gucht in Japan

EU trade chief De Gucht in Japan

TOKYO, Japan - European Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht holds a press conference in Tokyo on March 25, 2013.

EU trade chief De Gucht in Japan

EU trade chief De Gucht in Japan

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida (L) and European Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht shake hands at the Foreign Ministry in Tokyo on March 25, 2013.

EU trade chief De Gucht in Japan

EU trade chief De Gucht in Japan

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida (far R) and European Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht (far L) hold talks at the Foreign Ministry in Tokyo on March 25, 2013.

EU ready to start official FTA negotiations with Japan

EU ready to start official FTA negotiations with Japan

BRUSSELS, Belgium - EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht (C) attends a press conference in Brussels on May 16, 2011. He said the European Union will start preliminary talks with Japan on a bilateral free trade agreement later this month in a bid to enter official negotiations sometime this year.

EU ready to start official FTA negotiations with Japan

EU ready to start official FTA negotiations with Japan

BRUSSELS, Belgium - EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht (C) attends a press conference in Brussels on May 16, 2011. He said the European Union will start preliminary talks with Japan on a bilateral free trade agreement later this month in a bid to enter official negotiations sometime this year. (Kyodo)