TOKYO, March 10 (Xinhuanet) -- Japan and Mexico are set to reach abasic agreement for a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) by the weekend, paving the way for the two countries to seal the deal by the end of the month.

    The two sides are expected to basically agree on how to deal with industrial products such as steel and automobiles from Japan over the phone later in the day, Kyodo News on Wednesday quoted Japanese government sources as saying.

    In addition, negotiators also settled most of the differences concerning agricultural items at a meeting on Tuesday, which was centered on oranges, orange juice, beef, chicken and pork, the report said.

    Japan and Mexico failed to conclude a FTA at a summit meeting last October when Mexican President Vicente Fox was paying a visitto Tokyo, mainly due to differences on agricultural products.

    So far, Japan has reached such an agreement with Singapore, andis carrying out negotiations with Malaysia, the Philippines, SouthKorea and Thailand. Enditem