U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman (C) speaks next to Japan's Economics Minister Akira Amari (L) and Singapore's Trade Minister Lim Hng Kiang during a news conference at the end of a four-day Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Ministerial meeting in Singapore February 25, 2014. REUTERS/Edgar Su
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan and the United States on Wednesday began a round of crucial talks aimed at concluding a trade pact seen as critical to the success of regional negotiations, although officials warned that bridging differences would be difficult.
Tokyo and Washington are seeking a two-way trade deal, regarded as a key part of the U.S.-led Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) that is the centrepiece of Washington's push to increase its Asian presence, before U.S. President Barack Obama travels to Japan for an April 24-25 state visit.
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