AFP, Tokyo :
The European Union’s top trade official said Saturday that a Japan-EU free trade deal was “almost there”, as the two sides look to ink an agreement seen as a push back against rising protectionism.
EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom was in Tokyo with agriculture commissioner Phil Hogan for two days of talks with Japanese officials.
After four years of negotiations the two sides are working toward signing a deal at the G20 in Hamburg next week.
“We are almost there,” Malmstrom told reporters in the Japanese capital Saturday evening, saying a finalised deal could happen by the “end of autumn”.
“We have sufficient convergence so that our officials can discuss in the coming days and iron out the remaining details.
“I am quite confident that our leaders can agree on their summit decided for next week on a package and give their blessing when they meet on the 6th” of July.
Japan’s foreign minister Fumio Kishida, however, described the talks as “very tough”.
