TOKYO (Reuters) - The time is "ripe" for Japan and the United States to reach a breakthrough in talks for a Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact, the U.S. commerce secretary said on Tuesday, adding that the two were "a lot closer" to a deal than in recent months.
Penny Pritzker, who is in Japan with a trade mission of U.S. energy and medical companies, said both countries needed to be "bold and creative" to reach a deal, and a summit between U.S. President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was possible if the two sides got closer to agreement.