EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (January 2019)
The Economic Partnership Agreement, signed by EU and Japan in 2018, removes the vast majority of the €1 billion of duties paid annually by EU companies exporting to Japan.
Once the agreement is fully implemented, Japan will have scrapped customs duties on 97% of goods imported from the EU.
The agreement also removes a number of long-standing non-tariff barriers, for example by endorsing international standards on cars. It will also break down barriers for key EU food and drink exporters to 127 million Japanese consumers and will increase export opportunities in a range of other sectors.
Annual trade between the EU and Japan could increase by nearly €36 billion once the agreement is implemented in full.
The EU and Japan have agreed to set ambitious standards on sustainable development, and the text includes for the first time a specific commitment to the Paris climate agreement.
Once the agreement is fully implemented, Japan will have scrapped customs duties on 97% of goods imported from the EU.
The agreement also removes a number of long-standing non-tariff barriers, for example by endorsing international standards on cars. It will also break down barriers for key EU food and drink exporters to 127 million Japanese consumers and will increase export opportunities in a range of other sectors.
Annual trade between the EU and Japan could increase by nearly €36 billion once the agreement is implemented in full.
The EU and Japan have agreed to set ambitious standards on sustainable development, and the text includes for the first time a specific commitment to the Paris climate agreement.
Summary
- Read the text
Content of the EU-Japan Agreement by theme
- Agriculture [other languages]
- Food safety and sanitary and phytosanitary measures (animal and plant health) [other languages]
- Market Access [other languages]
- Precautionary Principle [other languages]
- Public procurement [other languages]
- Regulatory cooperation [other languages]
- Sustainable development [other languages]
Official text of the EU-Japan Agreement
Multimedia
Overview of the Negotiations
The 18th round of negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement between the EU and Japan took place in Tokyo in April 2017. Both sides work to conclude the negotiations in 2017.
A Sustainability Impact Assessment (SIA) of the EU-Japan FTA was carried out for the European Commission and was published in 2016.
The EU-Japan Free Trade Agreement negotiations were officially launched on 25 March 2013, after the release of an impact assessment of the future Free Trade Agreement in July 2012.
A Strategic Partnership Agreement between the EU and Japan is being negotiated in parallel with the Free Trade Agreement.
Round reports and textual proposals of the EU-Japan FTA negotiations.
A Sustainability Impact Assessment (SIA) of the EU-Japan FTA was carried out for the European Commission and was published in 2016.
The EU-Japan Free Trade Agreement negotiations were officially launched on 25 March 2013, after the release of an impact assessment of the future Free Trade Agreement in July 2012.
A Strategic Partnership Agreement between the EU and Japan is being negotiated in parallel with the Free Trade Agreement.
Round reports and textual proposals of the EU-Japan FTA negotiations.
Negotiating Directives
Negotiating Directives adopted on 29 November 2012
Negotiating Directives adopted on 29 November 2012
Current Status
The EU and Japan reached an agreement in principle on the main elements of an Economic Partnership Agreement at the EU-Japan summit on 6 July 2017.
The EPA removes the vast majority of duties paid by EU companies, which sum up to €1 billion annually, opens the Japanese market to key EU agricultural exports and increases opportunities in a range of sectors.
It sets the highest standards of labour, safety, environmental and consumer protection, data protection, fully safeguards public services and has a dedicated chapter on sustainable development. For the first time, an agreement includes a specific commitment to the Paris climate change.
The EU and Japan reached an agreement in principle on the main elements of an Economic Partnership Agreement at the EU-Japan summit on 6 July 2017.
The EPA removes the vast majority of duties paid by EU companies, which sum up to €1 billion annually, opens the Japanese market to key EU agricultural exports and increases opportunities in a range of sectors.
It sets the highest standards of labour, safety, environmental and consumer protection, data protection, fully safeguards public services and has a dedicated chapter on sustainable development. For the first time, an agreement includes a specific commitment to the Paris climate change.
Next Steps
For some chapters negotiations are still ongoing, such as on investment protection. The EU has put its reformed Investment Court System on the table and work towards the setting up of a Multilateral
Investment Court. Other areas also require further work, such as the regulatory cooperation and the general and institutional chapters.
Based on the agreement in principle from 6 July 2017, negotiators will continue to work on the remaining technical issues hoping to conclude a final text by the end of 2017. Only then will the Commission proceed to the legal verification and translation of the agreement into all EU official languages, and will consequently submit it for the approval of EU Member States and the European Parliament.
For some chapters negotiations are still ongoing, such as on investment protection. The EU has put its reformed Investment Court System on the table and work towards the setting up of a Multilateral
Investment Court. Other areas also require further work, such as the regulatory cooperation and the general and institutional chapters.
Based on the agreement in principle from 6 July 2017, negotiators will continue to work on the remaining technical issues hoping to conclude a final text by the end of 2017. Only then will the Commission proceed to the legal verification and translation of the agreement into all EU official languages, and will consequently submit it for the approval of EU Member States and the European Parliament.
Reports of the ongoing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations:
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