USTR Lighthizer eyes 1st trade talks with Japan by late Aug.

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said Thursday he plans to hold a first round of trade talks with Toshimitsu Motegi, Japan's economic and fiscal policy minister, "in the next 30 days."In a Senate hearing, Lighthizer reiterated his eagerness to strike a free trade agreement with Japan, a deal Tokyo does not seek given its preference for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, an 11-member regional FTA.Referring to the ministerial talks, likely to be held in Washington, Lighthizer said, "We have a fairly aggressive agenda" and that Japan is willing to "work on a variety of issues," but prov…READ FULL ARTICLE