Japan to ratify ASEAN free trade deal
Updated
Japan's free trade agreement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations was assured of ratification on Friday by the country's divided parliament.
Under the deal, around 90 per cent of trade between Japan and the 10 ASEAN nations will be tariff-free, within a decade.
The lower house is dominated by Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
It voted in favour of the FTA last month, but the legislation's been held up in the opposition-controlled upper house.
Under Japan's constitution, international treaties signed by the government are automatically ratified if the upper house does not make a decision within 30 days, after approval by the lower house.
