AUSTRALIA is close to clinching a free trade deal with Japan, its second biggest trading partner, after progress in talks on giving farmers better access to its agricultural markets. Japanese government sources told The Australian Financial Review Tokyo was keen to conclude an agreement by July, after five years of negotiations. Getting better access for farmers to Japan’s heavily protected agriculture sector has been a stumbling block in the talks and trade sources suggest Canberra has made major concessions. Under the proposed changes, Australia would only secure lower customs duties on a fixed quantity of farm ... (full story)