Japan and India sign free trade pact

Japan and India signed a free trade agreement Wednesday amid a push by Japan to revive its weak economy by lowering barriers to trade and deepening its economic ties with the fast-growing nations of emerging Asia.

The economic partnership agreement, signed by Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara and Indian Commerce Minister Anand Sharma Wednesday, will slash tariffs on goods from DVD players to shrimp and lumber, and introduces measures to promote investment and deal with intellectual property rights. (AP)