Position Paper of the EU-Japan Business Round Table (BRT)
On the current COVID-19 pandemic
25 May 2020, Tokyo
The EU-Japan Business Round Table (BRT) fosters communication between senior executives of Japanese andEuropean industries. Its 55 members are led by Masaki Sakuyama (Chairman, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
and Philippe Wahl (Chairman and CEO, Le Groupe La Poste) and represent a broad range of sectors of activity 1.
The BRT is deeply concerned that the EU, Japan, and indeed the world, are facing unprecedented challenges
to the health and well-being of our societies, and are confronting unparalleled downturns of our economies
with disruptions to employment, trade, and global value chains due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Consequently, the gross domestic product (GDP) of the world's economic regions, including Japan and theEU, has fallen sharply.
The BRT welcomes the efforts of the EU and Japan to address and overcome these challenges, and calls for
EU-Japan cooperation 2 and leadership through concerted actions of:•Firstly, coordinating efforts to support the development of vaccines and treatments, other criticallife-saving products, and preparedness for future pandemics; strengthening e-health with digitalconnectivity to accelerate the sharing of lessons, expertise, and pandemic response measuresthrough public and private initiatives; and maintaining transparency and the flow of information
across borders;•

Secondly, strengthening coordination within G7, G20, WTO and other multilateral forums to address
initiatives for the recovery of healthcare, economic, and trade systems without isolationism andprotectionism to ensure that industrial and agricultural global supply chains remain intact while
maintaining the necessary precautions and measures for the current and future pandemics. At thesame time, the BRT supports the EU and Japan’s respective economic stimulus packages, andencourages the full implementation of the EU-Japan EPA and SPA to accelerate digital transformations,green transition, and open innovation for the economic recovery and support of SMEs, in particular;•Thirdly, recognising that the current pandemic cannot be solved by the EU and Japan exclusively
within their own countries, the BRT calls for strengthened EU-Japan cooperation to assist thirdcountries by leveraging: the EU-Japan Partnership on Sustainable Connectivity and Quality
Infrastructure 3 ; the EIB’s agreements 4 with JICA and JBIC on the co-financing of joint EU-Japanprojects; the EIB’s Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NEXI 5 on trade insurance to coverrisks involved in overseas transactions; and,•

Fourthly, ensuring green, sustainable, resilient, and inclusive economic recoveries – the BRT iscommitted to reflecting on forward-looking, post-coronavirus pandemic strategies within the EU andJapan’s business communities that trigger opportunities, and aid in the accelerated recovery of theglobal economy with a renewed focus on the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals(SDG) that remain crucial and effective tools for the world.

On all the above fronts, the ability of both the EU and Japanese public and private sectors to be resilient
depends on acting together and coordinating policies and response by industry. The global coronavirus crisis
cannot be dealt with solely at national levels.
https://www.eu-japan-brt.eu/
https://www.mofa.go.jp/press/release/press1e_000146.html
3
https://www.mofa.go.jp/files/000521432.pdf
4https://www.eib.org/en/press/news/eib-expands-partnership-with-japan andhttps://www.eib.org/en/press/all/2018-264-eib-new-cooperation-with-the-japan-bank-for-internationalcooperation-jbic-and-with-the-nippon-export-and-investment-insurance-nexi
5
https://www.nexi.go.jp/en/topics/newsrelease/2018102205.html
12

The following are additional considerations in which the BRT should be involved to mitigate the medical
and economic consequences of the new coronavirus pandemic.
•Healthcare stakeholders, governments, and research institutions sharing knowledge and resources
to realise novel therapeutics and, including the utilisation of AI’s predictive technology for thedevelopment and use of vaccines against COVID-19. International coordination and harmonisation
are expected to greatly accelerate the development and application of such therapeutics andvaccines.

•An integrated international approach by all relevant governments and agencies that addresses theentire logistical aspects of the import and export of medicines and medical devices, as well as critical
related services, that are essential to ensuring the uninterrupted treatment of patients.

•Greater use of digital technologies, such as IoT and AI, to process real-time information and realise
efficiency and safety gains whilst eliminating disparities between urban and rural areas. Utilisation of
the latest technologies such as contactless recognition technology to accelerate the introduction of
new lifestyles. The EU and Japan should encourage collaboration to develop new platforms and tools
such as innovative ETL (Extract/Transform/Load) tools development•Stimulating investment and maintaining support for innovation. Mobility of people, capital, goods
and services should be assured as our economies restart.

•Cooperation in autonomous mobility and electric vehicles should be reinforced.

Building on the EU-Japan public-private partnership in times of crisis
At its annual meeting – being considered for later this year in Tokyo – the BRT will review the impact thecoronavirus pandemic has had on our economies, industries and societies, and consider the lessons thatshould be learnt. The BRT intends to focus in particular on the following industrial mega trends andopportunities for Japan and the EU.
•EU-Japan EPA
The BRT will take stock of the implementation and execution of the EU-Japan EPA to date. Its firstyear results were broadly positive, and the EPA will continue to be key to rebuilding our economies
as we emerge from the current crisis.

•Digital economy
Measures such as regulatory cooperation and new standards to empower the economies of the EU
and Japan in the game-changing digital economy are crucial aspects that enable both our economies
to maintain critical momentum against increasingly competitive and disparate global economic,financial, and social environments.

•Green and sustainable transitions
Efforts to revive the Japanese, EU and global economies in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic
must ensure green and sustainable recoveries that address climate change by reducing greenhousegas emissions in coming years.

•EU-Japan Connectivity
It is vital to accelerate the discussions between the EU and Japanese Authorities on cooperation andto reach agreements – in the near future – on concrete projects that reflect important trends of EUJapan business cooperation in third countries with positive impacts on level playing fields for boththe public and private sectors, and mutually beneficial solutions for sustainable development.

The BRT would like to reiterate that it is encouraged by, and wholeheartedly supports, the ongoingengagement of the EU and Japanese Authorities at this challenging time.
The BRT and its member companies and organisations are ready to work evermore closely with the EU andJapan Authorities (including retaining as close a relationship as possible between the EU and UK) to give
vocal support to addressing the challenges stemming from the coronavirus pandemic and realising thehealthcare and economic recoveries that are in the interests of the entire global community.
Inquiries
EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation (BRT Secretariat)
Tokyo+81 (0) 3 6408 0281
Ms Miyako Akiyama
Brussels+32 (0) 485 515 901
Mr Simon Craig Gray

https://www.eu-japan-brt.eu/
miyako.akiyama@eu-japan.gr.jp
simon@eu-japan.eu