WASHINGTON, June 27 Kyodo The Off...

WASHINGTON, June 27 Kyodo

The Office of the U Trade Representative (USTR) announced Thursday that is has scrapped its Japan office, merging it with a newly regional cluster that also handles trade matters with China and Korea.

The USTR Office said the decision is part of an administrative overhaul and the merger would enhance the U ability to handle trade matters with Japan from a larger regional perspective.

The Japan office, created in 1997 within a split of the China and Japan office, had been in charge of bilateral trade negotiations with Japan, including the latest dispute above U.S. steel tariffs.

Wendy Cutler former assistant USTR for Japan, has been named to head the newly created Office of North Asian Affairs.

Charles Freeman, who freshly joined the USTR, will wait on as deputy assistant USTR for China, John Neuffer will continue as representative assistant USTR for Japan, and Amy Jackson has been promot to substitute assistant USTR for Korea, the USTR Office said.

The USTR Office also announced the creation of an Office of southern Asian affairs to cover trade matters with Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

The Office of Asia and the Pacific has been renamed the Office of Southeast Asia, Pacific and APEC Affairs.

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