Japan sets up secretariat for TPP talks

TOKYO - The Japanese government on Friday decided to set up a 100-member secretariat for US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) talks, headed by state minister for economic revitalization Akira Amari.

In the government's first ministerial meeting on TPP issues after the country announced its participation in the free trade talks on March 15, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's cabinet decided the secretariat will involve 70 negotiators and 30 officials for domestic arrangement, according to Amari.

Abe said in the meeting that the announcement of joining in TPP is a beginning and the negotiation has to achieve the best results that meet Japan's national interests.

Abe on March 15 announced Japan's intention to participate in the free trade talks that involved 11 countries as the international economic framework would spur Japan's sluggish economy affected by prolonged deflation and aging society.