EUROCHAMBRES statement on a potential EU-Japan Free Trade Agreement

Following the European Commission’s request for a mandate to negotiate an EU-Japan free trade agreement (FTA), EUROCHAMBRES reiterates that the outcome of free trade talks has to be balanced.

Eurochambres urges the European Commission to make the actual conclusion of such an agreement conditional to a comprehensive dismantling of non-tariff barriers in Japan, better access to the government procurement market for EU companies and the inclusion of a balanced chapter on investment.

Seeing the insufficient progress under the current framework of EU-Japan trade cooperation, a comprehensive and balanced FTA can give the needed stimulus to both the EU and Japanese economies, but only if all kind of barriers to trade and investment in the above-mentioned fields are tackled in a satisfactory way assuring a visible and effective improvement of market access for companies from both regions.

Against this background, EUROCHAMBRES welcomes the Commissioner's message to the Japanese government that negotiations will be stopped if Japan will not have removed key non-tariff barriers within one year from the start of the negotiations, thereby avoiding lengthy negotiations without tackling key obstacles for European business.

EUROCHAMBRES -The Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry represents over 20 million enterprises in Europe - 93% of which are SMEs – through members in 45 countries and a European network of 2000 regional and local Chambers.