The United States and Japan resumed talks yesterday in Tokyo on the 12-nation Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) with the hope of narrowing differences over tariff issues for agricultural products and automobiles, which remain the biggest sticking points between the two nations.

If the working-level talks make enough progress, the United States and Japan — the two largest economies in TPP –will most likely hold a ministerial meeting before Japanese Prime Minister Abe and President Obama meet in Washington on April 28.

The United States has called on Japan to increase imports of U.S. rice.  However they have yet to agree on how much Tokyo should open up its market.  On automobiles, the United States has been reluctant to respond to Tokyo’s calls for immediate abolition of tariffs on automotive parts.

The 12 TPP countries are planning to hold a plenary ministerial meeting as early as May to work toward reaching a broad agreement.  However, the prospects going forward are still unclear as TPP members are also at odds over issues such as intellectual property rights, including copyrights of movies and patents for new medicines.  Those following the negotiations closely say that it is important to conclude the deal soon before the United States enters into full-fledged presidential campaign mode later this year for the 2016 election.