Japan delays decision on joining pacific free-trade talks

The Japanese government agreed Tuesday to postpone its plan to decide by June on whether to join negotiations for a U.S.-led Pacific free trade accord as it reviewed its policy priorities in the wake of the March 11 mega quake. In a policy guideline decided during a Cabinet meeting, the government said it would 'comprehensively consider when to make a decision' on whether to join the talks on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a regional free trade initiative being negotiated by the United States, Australia and other Asia-Pacific countries, Japan's News Agency "Kyodo" reported. Before the magnitude 9.0 quake devastated Japan's northeastern region and triggered a nuclear crisis, the government said it would decide by around June whether to join the talks. The Trans- Pacific Partnership (TPP) is intended to require member economies in principle to scrap all tariffs.