Japan's minister in charge of Trans- Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade talks Akira Amari said Tuesday that key farm products like rice are the country's red lines in the U.S.-led free trade talks, according to local media.

Amari, Japan's state minister for economic and fiscal policy, said in a press conference that he will properly convey the message to U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew when they meet later in the day, according to Japan's Kyodo News.

The TPP calls for getting rid of all tariffs, while Japan seeks to retain tariffs it imposes on imports of rice, wheat, beef and some other products to protect its agriculture.

Countries involving in the free trade talks are expected to hold in U.S. Salt Lake City a chief negotiators' meeting, which Amari said will have a "great significance" in pushing forward the talks toward concluding a deal at a TPP ministerial meeting next month in Singapore, reported Kyodo.

The TPP groups 12 countries, namely Brunei, Chile, New Zealand, Singapore, the United States, Australia, Peru, Vietnam, Malaysia, Mexico, Canada and Japan. Endi

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