TOKYO: US Trade Representative Michael Froman arrived in Japan earlier than expected on Wednesday, reported Japanese media, for a last ditch push for a two-way deal seen as crucial to efforts to create one of the world’s biggest trade pacts.

Froman, who had been expected to arrive in Tokyo with US President Barack Obama later in the day, was likely to meet Japanese Economy Minister Akira Amari, the reports said.

Talks have been snagged largely on Japan’s insistence on protecting politically powerful farm sectors such as beef. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told parliament the talks were tough but Japan was trying to keep some tariffs.

Officials have played down the chances of a deal in time for Thursday’s summit between Obama and Abe, but some experts said an 11th hour agreement could not be ruled out.

A central element of Obama’s strategic shift towards Asia, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) would connect a dozen Asia-Pacific economies by eliminating trade barriers and harmonizing regulations in a pact covering two-fifths of the world economy and a third of all global trade.

After four years of talks and missed deadlines, negotiators from several TPP countries say they hope Thursday’s summit will lay the groundwork for tough concessions, including a possible easing in Japan’s protectionist stance on beef, sugar, dairy and wheat — a step that could breathe life into the struggling TPP.

“Hopefully this will provide some clarity about the level of ambition we can expect in a hopefully successful TPP,” New Zealand Trade Minister Tim Groser said.

Washington, meanwhile, has sought ways to protect US carmakers from their Japanese rivals.

Experts are looking for signs of concessions, especially from Japan given its staunch protection of its beef, sugar, dairy and wheat industries.

Under one optimistic scenario, the leaders could announce they expect concrete outcomes soon, perhaps next month, when TPP negotiators meet in Vietnam.

Failure to unveil a significant advance could stall the ambitious pact, undermining the trade-policy arm of Obama’s so-called “pivot” of US military, diplomatic and trade resources to the Asia-Pacific region.

An agreement between the United States and Japan is crucial for setting the tone for other countries engaged in the TPP: Australia, Brunei, Chile, Canada, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

US-Japan talks have intensified in the run-up to the summit and are likely to continue through Wednesday. Japanese media have floated one possible outcome: Japan will be allowed to maintain tariffs on rice and wheat in exchange for a larger import quota for US producers. Tariffs on beef would be cut over time, likely to around 9 per cent, reports said.

Officials on both sides refuse to confirm details and warn against focusing too much on individual parts of what will be a delicately balanced final agreement between the 12 countries.

“Any agreement will be very complicated and it will involve a complex and holistic agreement,” Japanese cabinet councillor Kazuhisa Shibuya told reporters on Monday.