Japan has reached basic agreements with Vietnam and Switzerland on separate economic partnership accords, a top government spokesman said Monday, dpa reported.
Switzerland would be the first industrialized nation to enter such an agreement with Japan. The two nations launched talks on an economic partnership agreement (EPA) in May 2007.
With Vietnam, Japan has found basic common ground on most issues to free bilateral trade since the two nations began negotiations in January 2007, Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura said.
Tokyo asked both nations to reduce import tariffs on industrial materials such as automobiles and machineries.
Vietnam requested to lift taxes on clothing, seafood and farm products, while Switzerland listed cheese and wine among other imports, according to the officials.
No specific date was announced for signing of the agreement.
Japan has so far signed EPAs with Singapore, Indonesia, Mexico, Thailand and Chile.