SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Progress is being made in Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade talks but hurdles remain and Japan is unlikely to be ready to join the next round in May, negotiators said on Wednesday, pointing to a tough road for the 11 countries hoping to sign an agreement this year.
If Japan expresses its desire to take part, it must first hold bilateral meetings with existing members and be supported by a consensus to "keep up the good momentum" going into the next talks in Peru, said Singapore's negotiator, Ng Bee Kim.
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