Five Cabinet ministers confirmed Thursday they will hold negotiations in a bid to resolve a trade dispute over farm product imports from China, according to government officials.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Tsutomu Takebe, Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka, Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Takeo Hiranuma, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda and Finance Minister Masajuro Shiokawa reached the accord at a meeting at the Prime Minister's Official Residence.
Japan must decide by Nov. 8 whether to upgrade its 200-day safeguard curbs on imports of stone leeks, shiitake mushrooms and tatami straw to full punitive measures. Japan's imports of the products come mostly from China.
In April, Japan imposed a 200-day safeguard restriction on the products. In June, China retaliated with 100 percent punitive tariffs on Japanese motor vehicles, air conditioners and mobile phones.