US, Japan to begin trade deal talks

The United States and Japan are set to begin negotiations on August 9 to reach a bilateral trade agreement, the Japanese government says.

The first round of talks, due to be held in Washington, will be led by Japan's Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and the US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday to announce the launch of negotiations, Motegi said he wanted to have "constructive talks" for expanding free trade.

US President Donald Trump's administration has objected to Washington's large trade deficit with Tokyo, which stood at $US68.876 billion in 2017, in line with its trade policy with other countries and regions, although the deficit is much lower now compared to a decade earlier.

In the past Japan has favoured regional trade treaties, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership - from which the US withdrew in January 2017 - more than bilateral trade deals.

The announcement of trade talks between the two countries comes after Japanese authorities signed a wide-ranging free trade agreement with the European Union on July 17, after years of negotiations.