Japan Talks Free Trade with Australia

Japanese ministers gave the go ahead for full-fledged talks between Australia and Japan on a free trade agreement.

Australia's major export is farm products, traditionally a very sensitive issue in Japan where rice is considered sacred.

Nothing, of course, has been decided other than the two countries have agreed to talk about possible free trade.

All of this talk is preparatory to PM Abe's meeting with Australia's PM Howard later this month in the Philippines during the East Asia summit.

Lawmakers in Japan are already asking that rice, wheat, and sugar be left out of the free trade agreement.

The cows in Kobe are hoping for an agreement. They were seen carrying sign boards – eat more Aussie chicken!

Talking is one thing. An agreement, however, is long in coming.

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