EU-Japan EPA
29/11/2022 - Page updated to correct the URLs to pages on the DG TRADE website.
03/02/2020 - Page updated with links to pages on the DG TRADE website regarding the results of the first year of implementation of the EPA and meetings of various EU-Japan committees established under the EPA. See the "Resources available to help companies use the EPA" section, below.
17/07/2018 - BRT Japan-side Chairman, Masaki Sakuyama (Chairman, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation) and Danny Risberg (Chairman, EBC in Japan, for the BRT's EU-side) represent the BRT at the ceremony to mark the signing of the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement and Strategic Partnership Agreement.
Mr Risberg is on the far left of the second row and Mr Sakuyama is on the far right of the second row.
01/02/2019 - the EU-Japan Business Round Table issued the following statement to mark the entry into force of the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement.
| A New Era for the EU and Japan Starts Today Tokyo and Brussels, 1 February 2019 The EU-Japan Business Round Table (BRT) welcomes today’s entry into force of the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). The EPA will revolutionise the EU-Japan relationship; underscore free, fair and rules-based trade; facilitate trade investment; create new possibilities for growth and cooperation; develop new, high-level standards; benefit consumers; and have a positive impact on wider society. In 2007, the BRT called for an Authority-led taskforce supported by business to explore the feasibility of an enriched EU-Japan economic agreement. The BRT has encouraged and welcomed every step in the journey, and congratulates the EU and Japanese negotiators on their commendable and unceasing efforts to achieve a comprehensive, ambitious, and mutually-beneficial high-level Agreement that will serve as a blueprint for future agreements. Encompassing 37% of global trade, the EPA sends a strong message that stands for the rejection of protectionism and against market-distorting measures, whilst showcasing the benefits of openness, multilateralism, level playing fields, and inclusive societies. The BRT is convinced that the EPA, and other multilateral agreements such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), further strengthen the case for free and fair trade. This Agreement must be regarded as a ‘living agreement’ that advances and reinforces regulatory convergence, creates new opportunities for partnerships in key sectors such as circular economy and digital economy; enhances cooperation in international standards; reduces non-tariff measures; and furthers cooperation and establishment of frameworks for joint investment in third countries where EU and Japanese companies increasingly operate. In order for the EPA’s potential to be achieved, companies of all sizes – including SMEs – must also be aware of the existence of, provisions within, and opportunities presented by the EPA. Public and private stakeholders must raise awareness of the Agreement and its inherent benefits. The BRT will closely follow the application of the Agreement, will continue to submit its recommendations to the EU and Japanese Authorities, and would be pleased to offer its voice to the EPA’s various bodies and civil society dialogues. The BRT is confident that the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement heralds a new EU-Japan relationship, and looks forward to representing the voice of business and industry in advancing this landmark Agreement. |
For a bilingual English/Japanese PDF version of this statement, please click here.
The text of the EU-Japan EPA
The text of the agreement is available in all the official languages of the EU and in Japanese. (Click on the flag corresponding to your preferred language.)
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Resources available to help companies use the EPA
The European Commission's DG TRADE has a section devoted to the EPA:
>> https://policy.trade.ec.europa.eu/eu-trade-relationships-country-and-region/countries-and-regions/japan/eu-japan-agreement_en
This DG TRADE webpage includes links to:
- Preliminary results from the first year of implementation (up to 01/02/2020)
- Reports and agendas of the meetings of the various committees established under the EPA and other documents relating to EU-Japan trade.
- EU-Japan trade in your town (learn about each EU country's exports to Japan),
- Factsheets about the agreement and more detailed questions and answers,
- Meetings and Documents (an archive of negotiating reports, impact assessments, meetings with EU Member States, the European Parliament, and civil society),
- Japan information page (discover the current trade relations between the EU and Japan),
- The text of the Agreement (read some of the main chapters in the agreement - to read the full agreement in your language please click on the appropriate flag in the previous section),
- Exporters' stories (Get inspired by some of the small EU firms already exporting to Japan).
The EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation EPA Helpdesk to Support EU SMEs:
>> http://www.eujapanepa.eu/
The EU-Japan Centre is a unique venture between the European Commission and the Government of Japan, and acts as the BRT Secretariat. The EPA Helpdesk is intended to raise awareness of the opportunities the EPA offers and provide support and relevant information.
The EPA Helpdesk answers EPA-related queries, organises webinars and publishes information packs each of them composed of a factsheet and/or practical guide covering a specific topic or sector.
The Japan External Trade Organization has detailed Japanese-language information and resources about the EU-Japan EPA:
>> https://www.jetro.go.jp/world/europe/eu/epa.html
JETRO's website has a comprehensive set of resources for Japanese companies looking to develop new and existing links with the EU. The JETRO webpage includes an EU-Japan EPA Kaisetsu-sho (manual) - 日EU・EPA解説書：日EU・EPAの特恵関税の活用について - together with detailed analysis prepared by various government departments and agencies, and case studies and other resources.
The Japanese Government has outsourced the creation and maintenance of an EPA helpdesk in Japanese:
This EPA helpdesk provides Japanese-information, resources and support for Japanese companies interested in taking advantage of the EU-Japan EPA, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP/TPP11) and Japan's other EPAs.
Information on the related EU-Japan Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA):
The text of the SPA and background information can be found on the website of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in both English and Japanese.
Information about the EPA can also be found on twitter at #eujapanepa.
The BRT and the EPA
Since 2007, the BRT has called for a deep and ambitious EU-Japan agreement to help achieve the full potential of EU-Japan economic relations. The BRT welcomed the launching of negotiations on 25 March 2013, the progress made during the 18 formal rounds of negotiations and countless other formal and informal contacts and exchanges between the EU and Japanese Authorities, the 06 July 2017 announcement of an "agreement in principle", and the succesful conclusion of the negotations on 08 December 2017.
Now that the EPA has entered into force, the BRT will monitor its application and will seek to identify any issues with its implementation or indeed new areas in which the EU and Japan can cooperate more closely.
>> For more information on what the BRT has advocated over the years, click here.