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US President Barack Obama has wrapped up his two-day visit to Japan, with the two countries vowing¹ to enhance bilateral² ties and continue free trade talks. However, although progress was made, our correspondent Terrence Terashima tells us many issues have yet to be resolved.

joint³ news conference at the Akasaka State Guest House in Tokyo, Thursday, April 24, 2014. " src="/upimg/allimg/140425/1354231K4-0.jpg" width="500" />
President Barack Obama, left, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe participate
in a joint news conference at the Akasaka State Guest House in Tokyo, Thursday, April 24, 2014.

US president Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe concluded two day discussions in an official and unofficial basis.

Despite the smiles hand shakes in so called Shinzo Abe’s Sushi diplomacy⁴, Obama and Abe failed find common grounds on Transpacific Partnership⁵ Agreement. U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman and his Japanese counter part Akira Amari were locked into tough negotiations⁶ until early hours, failed to reach agreements, leaving the final decisions to the summit talks.
Market access for auto⁷, and agriculture products remain the biggest sticking point.

"Barack and I have instructed both ministers to step up efforts to solve the remaining issues, and conclude the TPP negotiations as soon as possible" Abe said.

On security, experts say Abe managed to achieve one of of his primary goal. Inclusion of US commitment to Japan’s defenses in the joint statements. including the disputed Diaoyu islands.

However, Washington remain cautious that the security commitment will not be put to the test and called for a dialogue to resolve the dispute.

"What is the consistent part of the alliance is that the treaty covers all territories administered by Japan. So this is not a new position this is a consistent one. In our discussions I emphasized with Prime Minister Abe the importance of resolving this issue peacefully." Obama said.

Washington welcomed Tokyo intensions in exercising collective defense⁸, which raises questions on how much US accepts Japan’s expanding defense strategy.

"Abe has delivered on what washington wants from japan on the security front, I do not think there is a rift⁹ between them, I don’t america feels the need to try to curve abe’s actions. they want more of the same." Jeff Kingston, director of Asian Studies at Temple University, said.

The main achievement in this summit would be that Tokyo and Washington manage to show that it is in synchronous¹⁰ on regional security and economy. Have a rigid¹¹ alliance. However, discomforts¹² are still apparent, in Abe historical awareness¹³, stalled TPP and how much of actual commitment US is willing to give.