NHK (16/02/2019) - Representatives of 16 Asia-Pacific countries will start talks on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP, on Tuesday.

They are scheduled to meet for 10 days in Bali, Indonesia. Japan, China and India are among the countries taking part.

Ministers from the countries met five times last year, but they failed to reach an agreement on the regional free trade pact.

Tariffs were among the issues of contention. India has been cautious about abolishing them for fear of increased imports from China and elsewhere.

At the upcoming talks, Japan hopes to achieve progress in financial services and other less contentious areas to pave the way for a conclusion of the pact by the end of the year.

But the countries remain divided on tariffs and intellectual property.

Read more at https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190217_09/