Trade Minister Tim Groser said New Zealand has concluded bilateral consultations with Japan at which it sought assurances that Japan could positively contribute to the momentum of the negotiations. New Zealand welcomed news last month that Japan wanted to join the 11 Asia-Pacific TPP countries, including the United States, which are negotiating what would be the world's largest regional free trade agreement. After a meeting with Japan's Minister of Economic Revitalisation, Akira Amari, Mr Groser expressed confidence that Japan wanted to achieve a comprehensive, high-standard agreement, consistent with the statements made by TPP leaders and trade ministers in Honolulu in November 2011. "I was pleased to be able to confirm that New Zealand could support Japan's participation in TPP on this basis," Mr Groser said. The US has given Japan the green light to enter the TPP, despite opposition from some US manufacturers and labour groups.
