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Japan-US to

hold talks on

air cargo

TOKYO: Japan and the United States will hold talks on a new framework for air cargo transport between the two countries from September 26 in Tokyo, a Transport Ministry official said.

The talks will probably last three days, he said, adding that it was not yet known who would attend the negotiations.

An agreement to hold the negotiations on cargo transport was made in bilateral ministerial talks held last month as part of the settlement of a prolonged dispute which revolved around an application by Federal Express Corp for route extensions to Asia via Japan.

In the dispute, Japan sought changes in a bilateral aviation treaty signed in 1952, saying it did not reflect the present state of the aviation industry and favoured US aviation interests.

The 1952 pact governs both air passenger and cargo transport.

Japan and the US have agreed to complete the negotiations on the new framework for air cargo transport within six months from the start of the talks.

They have agreed to discuss air passenger transport after the cargo issue is settled.-Reuter