TOKYO (jAN 24): Finance Minister Taro Aso said on Tuesday that Japan would seek the United States' understanding of the strategic and economic benefits of joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership, after President Donald Trump formally withdrew from the free-trade pact.

Aso told reporters after a cabinet meeting that arrangements were being made for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to visit the United States and meet Trump, but that it was undecided who would accompany the premier.

Meanwhile, trade minister Hiroshige Seko said Japan will continue to stress the strategic and economic importance of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal to the United States.

He said it would be important for the TPP to have the United States as a member.

Seko also said that he would closely monitor the impact on Japanese corporations if there were any changes made to the North American Free Trade Agreement.