US and Japan aim for full free trade agreement

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said on Wednesday that the United States and Japan are aiming for a full free trade agreement approved by the U.S. Congress and he will soon begin notifications to launch negotiations under the "fast track" trade authority law.

Lighthizer told reporters on a conference call just after President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed to launch the talks that he expects the talks will happen in two "tranches," with the first set aiming for an "early harvest" on reducing tariffs and other barriers to trade in goods.