Japan and the United States will discuss an "open skies" agreement and the use of a second runway at Narita airport in civil aviation talks Wednesday and Thursday in Washington.
The previous meeting was held in November; it was the first in about three years, and the two sides remained apart over a U.S. demand that would allow the airlines of both countries to determine the number and routes of their flights to and from each other's airports with no curbs from their aviation authorities.
Japanese negotiators resisted the U.S. proposal, fearing Japanese carriers are not ready for open competition.