BY TOKO SEKIGUCHI
TOKYO—Defying strong opposition from within his ruling party, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said Friday that Japan will join negotiations over the contentious U.S.-backed Asia-Pacific free-trade pact, as he prepared to meet U.S. President Barack Obama over the weekend.
Mr. Noda said having a role in the talks that will formulate the rules of the trade pact will advance Japan's national interest. "We will protect what needs to be protected, and win what we need to gain," he said before leaving for Hawaii and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
Mr. Noda's struggle to take a leading role in the controversial ...
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