Japan’s early trade talks with the US offer countries few clues on the way forward

Japan's Economic Revitalisation Minister Ryosei Akazawa answering questions from reporters in Washington on April 16. - AFP

TOKYO/NEW DELHI/SEOUL: No accord was signed, and a yawning gap still remains between the two countries.

But to all intents and purposes, the first round of trade talks between the US and Japan on Wednesday (April 16) is seen in Tokyo as a relative success.