Japan's parliament has ratified a free trade agreement with Mexico.
The accord, which was signed last September by Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Mexican President Vicente Fox, must still be ratified by Mexico's legislature.
The trade accord promises to widen Japanese export opportunities in Mexico and the United States, and aims to reduce Mexican dependence on the United States for export sales.
About 90 percent of Mexico's exports go to the United States.
Some information for this report provided by AFP.