Japan is taking the initiative in getting the much-vaunted global machine of trade liberalization up and running again after it stalled more than a year ago.
Top negotiators from Japan and 10 other economies will meet informally in Frankfurt on Jan. 24 to explore ways to get a new round of global trade talks launched under the auspices of the World Trade Organization, the Foreign Ministry announced Thursday.
Ministry officials said that the sub-Cabinet-level conference was originally proposed by Japan and will be chaired by Yoshiji Nogami, a deputy Japanese foreign minister for economic affairs. A deputy director general of the WTO will also attend.