Business calls for speedy ratification of the EU-Japan
Economic Partnership Agreement
26 September 2018
The European and Japanese business communities, representing companies of all sizes, hereby
jointly express their strong support for the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) andcall on the European Parliament to ensure a speedy ratification process.
The EU-Japan EPA comprises a third of global GDP and is a once in a generation opportunity tounlock economic growth, create jobs and enhance rules-based trade at a time when protectionism
surfaces around the world. Trade in goods and services between Japan and the European Union(EU) amounts to more than 150 billion euro per year, and exports between our two regions areprojected to increase by 34% for the EU and 29% for Japan, while the total increase as apercentage of trade with the world is 4% for the EU and 6% for Japan.1 The agreement will remove
most tariffs, non-tariff measures, enhance market access and public procurement, protect
geographical indications and intellectual property rights, and facilitate services and investment
flows.
For the first time in an EU EPA, there is also a chapter for small and medium-sized enterprises(SMEs), which commits both sides to proactively offer information and create SME contact points
to help companies who seek access to each other’s market. This should help those companies
with resource constraints and for whom internationalisation can present a number of extra
challenges, to maximise benefits from this EPA.
Citizens and consumers also stand to benefit greatly from this agreement. For the EU, every 1billion euro in trade supports 14 000 jobs across the Union.2 The more we can enlarge ourcommon pie, the more of it we can share among ourselves. The elimination of tariffs will saveconsumers and importers 1 billion euro per year in the EU, and for specific products the savings
are substantial.3
The free trade agreement will level the playing field between European and Japanese companies,and allow them to make use of their comparative advantages and specialised knowledge to offer
better products and services at cheaper prices. Better rules on intellectual property protection,
including the recognition of geographical indications, equal opportunities to bid for government
contracts, and rules on how to deal with competition issues all help to stimulate trade andencourage investment in each other’s economies.
The agreement will be a next step in a race to the top – an opportunity to set standards in new
product areas and to converge global trade rules around a high level of ambition. After all, ourshared interests mean that we can jointly advance the rules-based international economic order1

Trade Sustainability Impact Assessment of the Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and Japan, p.
55, 2016, Available at: http://www.tsia-eujapantrade.com/uploads/4/0/4/6/40469485/tsia_final_report.pdf2EU Exports to the World: Effects on Employment and Income, 2015, Available at:
http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2015/june/tradoc_153502.pdf
3Key Elements of the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement, 18 April 2018, Available at:
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-18-3326_en.htm

and oppose protectionism, the erosion of standards, and unfair trade practices. Throughregulatory cooperation between our governments, we can furthermore preserve future gains fromthis agreement and encourage other trading partners to rise up to our level. And we can ensurethat in areas of shared interest, we will regulate in a way that enhances rather than inhibits oureconomic potential without limiting public policy choices.
We therefore urge the European Parliament to proceed with the ratification process as quickly as
possible, to ensure that the companies, workers, and citizens of our two economies benefit fromthis agreement as soon as possible.