JAPAN and the European Union agreed at a summit meeting on Saturday to begin negotiations on a free trade agreement that would deepen economic ties between two of the world's largest economies.

Negotiations will be preceded by what the leaders called a "scoping exercise" to ensure both sides share the same goals and ambition.

At the summit, held in the Castle of Val-Duchesse, the leaders also agreed to work toward greater nuclear safety worldwide and to create closer political ties. The meeting was attended by Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan; Herman Van Rompuy, president of the European Council; and Jose Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission.

Japanese officials are sensitive about being stigmatized by the nuclear accident that followed the devastating earthquake and tsunami of March 11. They believe that some tests on imports of Japanese food are too stringent, even when the food is produced far from the site of the disaster. And they say the loss of tourism, even in areas far from any contamination, will hurt the country's economy.

Barroso sought to allay those concerns on Saturday.

"We firmly believe that Japan is safe and open for business," he said.

But the talks on a free trade agreement may be difficult.

The EU imposes a 10 percent tariff on goods imported from Japan while Japan imposes no tariff on those imported from the EU.

Japanese officials told reporters before the meeting they see the issue as relatively simple.

But EU officials see it as more complex, and they insisted successfully that the talks also take into account non-tariff barriers to trade and investment. They say in the EU public procurement is open and they want it to be the same in Japan as well.