10 April 2005 Sunday 30 Safar 1426 Japan-Chile free-trade GINOWAN, Japan, April 9: Japan told Chile on Saturday that it would look thoroughly at the possibility of a free-trade agreement, while Uruguay also called for ways to boost commercial links with the Asian economic power. Japan has free trade agreements only with Singapore and Mexico and is negotiating with the Philippines, South Korea and Thailand. Pacts would help nations export to Japan’s lucrative but tightly managed market for agricultural produce among other sectors. Tanigaki also met with his counterpart from Uruguay, Danilo Astori, who did not rule out seeking a free-trade pact. —AFP

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