Japanese and Mexican negotiators will lock themselves away in a conference hall in Tokyo's Minato Ward beginning Wednesday in an attempt to hammer out a free-trade accord.
The main hurdle between them and a deal that could forever change their countries' economic relations remains Japan's closed agriculture market.
If they clear that and other road blocks, they would allow Mexican President Vicente Fox and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to shake hands and beam for the cameras as they sign a basic agreement on bilateral free trade. Fox begins a state visit to Japan on Oct. 15.