Japan's Suga: Hope U.S. fast-track bill is passed as soon as possible

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a news conference the fast-track authority, or trade promotion authority (TPA), is needed to seal negotiations of the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday reversed course, approving the legislation central to President Barack Obama's trade deal with Pacific Rim nations and sending it back to the Senate.

(Reporting by Kaori Kaneko; Editing by Chris Gallagher)