EU-Japan free trade agreement

What is it about?

This article reviews the main factors that led up to the negotiation of a free trade agreement (FTA) between the EU and Japan. It covers the history of Japan-EU economic relations including the impact on specific European countries of Japan's exports to the EU. The article examines trade relations via the aerospace, telecommunications and food safety sectors. The EU and Japan agreed to two separate and parallel negotiations on the FTA and on politics; this is a most welcome break with the past.

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Why is it important?

The EU and Japan are in the process of negotiating a free trade agreement (FTA) as part of the EU's Global Europe strategy to stimulate growth and employment. The parties began negotiations in 2013 and expect to conclude in 2016. The resulting agreement is expected to be deep based on the scoping exercise which set the framework for negotiations. Tariffs are to be removed as well as numerous non-tariff measures pervasive in Japan, resulting in heightened competitiveness in both.