New Zealand exploring opportunities for Japan trade under Pacific-wide trade dea

New Zealand Trade Minister Tim Groser will be exploring opportunities for trade with Japan under the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement in talks in Japan this week.

"Japan's entry into the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations presents very significant opportunities for both countries," Groser said in a statement Monday.

"I am looking forward to a dialogue with Japanese business and government leaders on the negotiation and the deeper partnership that lies ahead of us, including in the area of food and agriculture."

Groser would then travel on to Bali for the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Ministerial meeting on Oct. 4 and 5, for talks on progressing the regional trade and investment liberalization agenda, as set out in the Bogor Goals for free trade and investment, and giving renewed impetus to the WTO Doha Round.

Groser would participate in discussions among Trade Ministers from the 12 TPP participating countries to further advance negotiations ahead of an expected meeting of TPP leaders in Bali.

This meeting would be an important milestone as the participating countries worked intensively to conclude TPP this year, he said.