During the two scheduled days of talks, little progress was made to address unresolved issues, including how the US will open its market to foreign auto parts, and to what extent the US, Canada and Japan will open markets to dairy products from Australia and New Zealand, and the US’ push to establish lengthier patent protections for bio-drugs made with living organisms. On the second day of negotiations, participating countries have come close to agreement on tariff barriers on auto parts and the 8-year patent protection for bio-drugs. However with other issues remained unsolved, ministerial-level talks will continue into this weekend instead of concluding in two days as scheduled.
