Japan agrees to big tariff cut with ASEAN

Tokyo -- Japan Saturday agreed to a major repeal of tariffs levied on imports from members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

The agreement involves 90 percent of imports by value and is the first free trade agreement Japan has concluded with a regional trade bloc, the Kyodo news service reported.

The pact will be signed in November when ASEAN leaders meet in Singapore.

ASEAN consists of 10 countries, including Japan, China, India and Australia. The bloc is Japan's third-largest trading partner after the United States and China.

The complex agreement involves a variety of manufactured goods and components, but does not include agricultural products. Rice imports in particular are a politically charged topic in Japan.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International.