Greenlight for the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)

The signatories have called on the European Parliament to proceed with a swift ratification process, following the signature of the Agreement on 17 July 2018. The Trade Committee MEPs gave the greenlight to landmark this EU-Japan agreement.

This allows both businesses and consumers as a whole to reap the benefits of this modern, comprehensive and balanced agreement. Japan and the EU are two like-minded and highly developed economies with a similar approach to today’s challenges (i.e. aging population, security, environment) and long-standing trade and investment links.

The Japan-EU EPA represents a thorough agreement reflecting the shared interest and high-standard rules of two developed and value-based economies.

The European Parliament, which has to give its consent before the deal can enter into force, is expected to vote its consent to the agreement at its December plenary session. If the deal is approved in Parliament, it can enter into force as soon as the Japanese Diet ratifies it.