Japan's Motegi says he agreed with USTR Lighthizer to speed up trade talks

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Japanese Economy Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said on Thursday he and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer agreed to accelerate trade talks.

Motegi also said trade talks between the two countries were progressing.

He was speaking to reporters in Washington after the first day of meetings with his U.S. counterpart. They will resume talks Friday.

(Reporting by David Lawder in Washington, writing by Kaori Kaneko in Tokyo, Editing by Chris Gallagher)