for more on the prospects for the talks i spoke earlier with matthew goodman, senior adviser for asian economics at center for strategic and international studies. and he also served as white house economic adviser under the obama administration. these talks have hit some snags. we do have u.s. trade representative michael froman scheduled to meet the economic revitalization minister akira amari on wednesday. how much progress do you think we can expect from these ministerial level talks? >> well, i think the talks are going to be very difficult and challenging. it may be difficult to reach a final agreement in this week, in this set of talks. but, i think with the impending visit of president obama to japan, i think there's a real opportunity to try to drive forward the process, and perhaps reach an agreement between the u.s. and japan. >> okay. talking about things that could give a boost to that, japan and australia, they agreed in principle on an epa. they had mostly beef and auto trade on the table there. do you think this will kind of smooth out the way for japan and the u.s. in

this book of matthew goodman senior advisor for asian economics at center for strategic and international studies and former white house economic advisor. i read your history president michael crow been scheduled to meet up the economic revitalization in a circular maree on wednesday. how much progress she typically expect from these minister level talks. well i think the talks are going to be very difficult and challenging. it may be difficult to reach a final agreement in this. in this week and this set of talks but i think with the impending visit of president obama to japan i think there's a real opportunity to spread to try to drive forward of the process and perhaps reach an agreement between the us and japan. they talk about things i could write a post about japan and australia they agreed in principle on an epa they have trouble sleeping in our trade on the table bear to think that this book and smooth out the way for japan and the us in their talks. well on some level it makes it a little more complicated to have a bilateral agreement among two members of this twelve country agre