Japan-EU near a broad agreement on free trade deal, Japan says

Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida agreed with a senior EU trade official on Wednesday that they are nearing a broad agreement on a free trade pact, the Japanese foreign ministry said.

Kishida earlier spoke by telephone with European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmstrom.

"Both shared understanding that a broad agreement is within reach," a Japanese ministry official told Reuters, quoting a statement issued after the telephone conversation.

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)