US critical minerals talks advance with EU, Japan on price floor, Bloomberg News reports

March 12 (Reuters) - The U.S., Japan and the European Union are set to announce plans in the coming weeks to lay the foundation for a trade agreement in critical minerals, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the preparations.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative will head talks for the trade deal that is set to include a price floor and tariffs for the materials to counter any market distortions by China, the report said, adding that U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is aiming to start negotiations in April.

Reuters could not immediately verify the report.