Japan, Canada to launch EPA talks

Japan and Canada are expected to officially announce that they are launching negotiations on a bilateral economic partnership agreement. The two sides will likely give the final go-ahead to the talks during a meeting in Tokyo between Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper scheduled for later this month, according to Japan's (NHK WORLD) website. The Japanese and Canadian governments have each studied the merits of an economic partnership since a summit meeting between their leaders in November 2010. Japan has concluded that the benefits would include the abolition of tariffs on Japanese cars exported to Canada and a stable supply of Canadian coal and natural gas to Japan. Canada would be able to expand exports of wheat and other farm products to Japan. The proposed EPA negotiations with Canada would be the first for Japan with another member of the Group of Eight industrialized countries.