India will seek review of its free trade agreement with Japan during a meeting between Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and his Japanese counterpart in Los Angeles on Thursday.
Nishimura Yasutoshi is the Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry.
FTA review with Japan
In such reviews, two countries seek more market access for their respective domestic products and resolve issues that are hindering trade.
"I think that's quite long overdue, and I am going to raise that issue with my counterpart from Japan. He has just taken over some time back as a new minister. So, I will be taking up that issue," Goyal told reporters when asked if a review of the free trade agreement (FTA) with Japan is on the cards.
The review assumes significance as domestic steel producers have time and again complained of surge in imports of steel products from Japan.
FTA pact with Australia
On trade with Australia, Goyal said the Australian Parliament is expected to approve the trade pact by the end of this year.
Australia's new Trade Minister Don Farrell is visiting India later this month to discuss trade and other issues.
"He has assured me that they are very pleased with the outcome of the Indo-Australia negotiations and the free trade agreement that we finalized , and that they will be putting it through Parliament soon. And I am told the tentative timelines... end of this year, it will be cleared through their Parliament," he said.
The pact was signed in April.
Meeting with US Trade rep
When asked about the issues that could come up in his meeting with US Trade Representative Katherine Tai, he said there are no immediate areas of concern between the US and India.
"We have very good and strong business relations. They are our largest trading partner. We do a lot of work for American companies. There's a lot of investment flow from America to India. So broadly, we keep exchanging notes on different issues, international trade. The meeting is just a follow up on that. There's no immediate agenda," Goyal said.