Tag Archives: EU-Japan EPA

The EU–Japan EPA (Economic Partnership Agreement) is signed!!

EU-Japan Trade

EU-Japan Trade

“History was made in Tokyo on 17 July 2018. At the 25th EU–Japan Summit, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, and Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission, for the long-awaited signing of the EU–Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). It is set to become the world’s largest bilateral agreement, covering 600 million people and nearly a third of global trade.

Formal negotiations began in 2013 and were finally concluded last December. The initial aims of the agreement were to solidify the economic relationship between the EU and Japan by removing tariffs, creating more transnational business opportunities and promoting job creation. However, in the political context of 2018, the EPA also represents the ongoing commitment of both the EU and Japan to free trade, fair trade and friendship.”  (source: EURO Biz)

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So, if you intend to do business with Japan in 2018 onwards, we recommend you to read one of our books:

“The Ultimate Survival Guide for Business in Japan” (http://www.gbmc.biz/survival-guide–e-book.html)

“Mastering Japan Business” (http://www.gbmc.biz/mastering-japan-business–e-book.html)

“Bridges to Japanese Business Etiquette” (http://www.gbmc.biz/bridges-to-japanese-business-etiquette–e-book.html)

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More details about the agreement from:

https://eurobiz.jp/ebc-update/its-official/

 


EU-Japan: Making moves towards trade liberalisation!

Strategic Alliances and Partnerships in Japan

GBMC’s article published in the Septembre 2017 issue (issue 50) of “The Shipping Network Magazine”, the official magazine of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (see pages 12 and 13).

Content: Update on the status of the negotiations for the EU-Japan EPA (Economic Partnership Agreement) and Analyse of the impact of populism on a future deal.

Download the magazine (PDF file) from here: ICS – Shipping Network Magazine – 50 septembre 2017

 


Railways Business: Franco-Japanese team shortlisted for new UK trains!

JR East Trains (Picture - JR East)

JR East Trains (Picture – JR East)

TGV_Alstom (Picture -Alstom)

TGV_Alstom (Picture -Alstom)

 

“Merseytravel, an executive body that provides professional, strategic and operational transport advice to the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, announced on 11 January 2016 that five bidders including a team composed of  French and Japanese companies have been shortlisted for a contract to supply around 50 EMUs (Electric Multiple Units) for the Merseyrail network.

The Franco-Japanese team is composed of Mitsui, a major Japanese trading company, J-TREC, JR East’s subsidiary rolling stock manufacturing company, and France’s Alstom.

Bids are due to be submitted by the end of April and a preferred bidder will be identified towards the end of the year. The project is likely to cost around £400m.

This joint action between French and Japanese companies is the first of its kind in the European Union, and concrete business results are expected.”  (Source: JR East Newsletter #19)

 

More details about the bid at: Railways Business: Franco-Japanese team shortlisted for new UK trains!

 

Looking forward to more Europe-Japan collaborative projects on both sides!

This is probably the right approach to promoting the completion of an EU-Japan EPA!

What do you think?

 

About J-TREC:

“Japan Transport Engineering Company is a total transport engineering firm manufacturing rolling stock, cargo containers, railway tracks and turnouts with its 100% of stocks owned by East Japan Railway Company. Rail transport nowadays has become a part of modern social infrastructure and the pursuit of safety, assurance and comfort are at the core of our manufacturing philosophy.  Along the pursuit, our belief in manufacturing is to pay attention to every detail, even to those that are not visible at a glance.
The forerunner of our company is Tokyu Car Corporation which has realized the first domestic production of stainless steel rail cars in Japan. We will succeed all the technology and know-how that were acquired during its 63 years of history and leap into the next level by challenging the world market.”

(more details at: http://www.j-trec.co.jp/eng/company/index.html)

 


TPP Agreement: a Flexible Solution for a Free Trade deal?

TPP (image source: cas.go.jp)

TPP (image source: cas.go.jp)

 

” The pact, agreed a month ago, comprises Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam.

The deal now awaits approval by each of the dozen members’ legislatures — a potentially contentious and lengthy process.

The U.S. government began its process on Thursday, with President Barack Obama notifying lawmakers of his plan to sign the U.S.-led initiative.

Some provisions in the 1,500-page document allow for nations to renegotiate terms and rules in some cases after a certain period of time. Such conditional arrangements helped them to conclude more than five years of intensive talks last month.

The text also says multiple countries will relax visa requirements to let workers and their families relocate more easily.

One of the provisions in the text allows nations to discuss the bringing forward of phased tariff abolition at the request of partners.

The 12 countries will also “review within 3 years of entry into force (of the agreement) and at least every 5 years thereafter the economic relationship and partnership” among them and “consider any proposal to amend or modify” the pact, according to the text.

The Japanese government will remove tariffs on 95.1 percent of imported products, compared with the abolition of duties on nearly 100 percent of imported items by other members, as tariffs will remain for some agricultural products.”   (The Japan Times)

 

The flexibility within the TPP agreement seems to have made possible an early deal for the 12 related countries. Maybe there is here some matter for thoughts for the EU-Japan FTA/EPA agreement under negotiation? What do you think? 

 

Read more from:   TPP Agreement: a Flexible Solution for a Free Trade deal?

 


TPP: US-Japan trade agreement deal soon?

TPP (image source: cas.go.jp)

TPP (image source: cas.go.jp)

 

A senior official of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said Friday she expects the 12 countries negotiating a Pacific free trade initiative (the U.S.-led TPP) to strike a deal before June, as the United States and Japan seem to be reaching a bilateral deal over Tokyo’s exceptional tariffs on five agricultural products — rice, beef and pork, wheat, dairy products and sugar.

Would this impact on/speed up talks for a EU-Japan FTA/EPA/EIA agreement?

Read morehttp://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/02/28/business/economy-business/u-s-business-leader-envisions-tpp-deal-before-june/#.VPLqauk3PIU

 


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