ABOUT THE EBC
2020

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About the EBC-Introduction
Promoting the interests of European businesses in Japan The European Business Council (EBC) is the trade policy arm of 15 EuropeanNational Chambers of Commerce, Business Associations & other organisations.

 EBC was established in 1972 as an ad hoc committee of chamber presidents.
 The EBC is registered with METI as the European (EU) Chamber of Commerce inJapan Through trade policy advocacy, the EBC works to improve the trade and investment
environment for European companies in Japan.
 Currently around 350 people from about 200 companies are registered in EBC’s 23committees
 Membership of EBC Committees provides opportunities for information exchange
and the chance to influence change.
2About the EBC-Why Advocacy Matters
Japan and its institutions have a complex structure with a convoluted web ofprocedures, regulations and laws. The result is a high level of regulatory and nonregulatory hurdles, presenting European companies with a major deterrent tobusiness development and investment and restricting growth potential. A thought
leader on trade policy in Japan, the EBC leverages its reputation as a trusted expert
organisation in Japan so that its members’ voices are heard in the corridors of power– in both Europe and Japan.
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The EBC offer companies an opportunity to:
Influence issues addressed in political forums like the EU-Japan Summit and the EU-Japanbilateral FTA/EPA
Share information on the market and business environment with colleagues in your sector
Liaise with the Japanese Government & regulatory agencies from a neutral position behind theEBC banner
Promote European businesses in JapanBe a proactive part of change

For more information, check https://www.ebc-jp.com or contact:
Ms. Valerie Moschetti: Tel: +81-3-3263-6222, Fax: +81-3-3263-6223, E-mail: vmoschetti@ebc-jp.com
3About the EBC- Benefits•

In summary, the EBC:
•Represents the most diverse group of European businesses in Japan•

Has a 48-year track record in addressing business issues with the JapaneseGovernment•

Enables companies to interact with Japanese Government officials•

Keeps members informed on changes in Japan’s political, government and economic
environment affecting their business sector•

Provides networking opportunities with companies from all sectors from acrossEurope•

Provides access to Europe-based business organisations
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About the EBC-Stakeholders
15 EBC Stakeholders:•••••••••••••••

Austrian Business Council
Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in Japan
Czech Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan
Danish Chamber of Commerce in Japan
Finnish Chamber of Commerce in Japan
French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan
German Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan
Greek Chamber of Commerce in Japan
Icelandic Chamber of Commerce in Japan
Italian Chamber of Commerce in Japan
Ireland Japan Chamber of Commerce
Netherlands Chamber of Commerce in Japan
Polish Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan
Spanish Institute of Foreign Trade
Swiss Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan5

About the EBC-Committees
Current 23 Committees:•••••••••••

Aeronautics, Space, Defence &Security
Airlines
Asset Management
Automobile
Automotive Components
Banking
Cosmetics & Quasi-drugs
EnergyFood & Agriculture
Financial Reporting
Human Resources

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Insurance
Legal Services
Liquor
Logistics & FreightMaterials
Medical Equipment & Diagnostics
Intellectual Property Rights
Railways
Retail & Wholesale
Sustainability & Social Responsibility
Tax
Telecommunications Equipment(plus link to EFPIA)6

About the EBC-Communications• EBC WEBSITE– https:/www.ebc-jp.com• EUROBIZ JAPAN MAGAZINE– EBC’s key communication tool – monthlypublication• OTHER– EBC Newsletter

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About the EBC-Annual Report THE LATEST EBC REPORT (White Paper) ON THE JAPANESE BUSINESSENVIRONMENT
Issued in July 2020, conveys the EBC’s main messages to relevant players in the Japanese
Government and around the world. Japanese version sent to every politician. This edition isentitled “Strengthening partnerships in crisis and opportunity alike”

 EBC “GOVERNMENT VISITS”“Parliament-Government Visits" to give
key political & government players the latest
EBC Report. Usually conducted in the months
following publication of the White Paper

8About EBC’s Advocacy Activities:
 EUROPEAN POLITICAL & GOVERNMENT LIAISON :Meetings, briefings, provision of materials, participation in events, and involves visits to the Europe-based entities:
 Delegation of the European Commission to Japan European Commission in Brussels
 European Parliament National EU Member State Embassies
 Embassies of Switzerland and Iceland JAPANESE POLITICAL & GOVERNMENT LIAISON :Frequent meetings, telephone calls, e-mail correspondence, letters, submission of position papers, participation inhearings, responding to calls for public comment, responding to calls for EBC comment, etc:
 Europe Division, Economic Affairs Bureau, MOFA, Europe Division, METI Cabinet Office International & Technical Divisions of:
METI, MHLW, MIC, MLIT, MoJ, MoF, MoD, MAFF
 Parliamentary Expert Groups
 FSA
 LDP (Upper and Lower Houses)
 DPJ (Upper and Lower Houses)
 Parliamentary Committees

About the EBC-Advocacy▪ THE EJBRTThe EU-Japan Business Roundtable is an annual conference of high-level businessleaders from the EU and Japan. The EBC Chairman co-chairs the working party on TradeRelations, Investment & Regulatory Cooperation, Financial Services, Accounting andTaxation.

▪ HANDS-ON ADVOCACY
All year long, the secretariat, EBC Executive & EBC Committee Chairmen meet withgovernment officials & politicians as well as Keidanren, Keizaidoyukai, and Tokyo &Osaka Chambers of Commerce, etc., and Japanese industry sector organisations▪ ADVOCACY ON PRIORITY ISSUESEBC Secretariat lobbies extensively on priority issues - intensive campaign of visits,
preparation of letters/position papers, etc. to relevant Japanese authorities. Examples
are acceleration of the approval processes for medical devices and food additives, easingof food contact regulations, traceability of lot codes for alcoholic beverages, among
many others.

▪ MAJOR BILATERAL ADVOCACY ISSUE
EU-Japan FTA/EPA – The EBC submitted a 100-page technical digital compendium of
more than 200 prioritised issues in each business sector to the European Commission
for use in the FTA/EPA negotiations. The negotiations concluded at the end of 2017 anda vast number of the EBC’s issues are included in the agreement.
10EBC Input into Policy-Making Bodies
 EBC INPUT INTO EU-JAPAN FTA
The EBC’s 100-page technical digital compendium of prioritised issues for
the EPA negotiations was consistently updated and meetings of technicalexperts from EBC committees with the EU’s negotiators and technicalexperts were organised on a regular basis. The EBC’s focus will shift tomonitoring the implementation of the relevant issues and to continue
working on all remaining and new issues not included in the agreement.

 EBC INPUT INTO THE EU-JAPAN SUMMIT
Every year, the EBC Secretariat prepares comments as input prior to theEU-Japan.

 OECD COUNTRY REVIEWS
Every year ,the EBC is asked to give the OECD a briefing on the trade andinvestment environment in Japan.

11EBC Input into Policy-Making Bodies
 JAPANESE GOVERNMENT AND ORGANISATIONS
A short snapshot of examples: Keidanren–Europe Committee and International Affairs Division
 JETRO – Various meetings of EBC Chairman with JETRO Chairman andPresident Keizai Doyukai – Participation of EBC Chairman in meeting of EuropeCommittee Various Government/Cabinet Office Hearings – eg Fair Trade Commission
 Tokyo Chamber of Commerce – Liaison for Eurochambres; meeting andbriefing of International Section Director on EBC issues

 Tokyo Government – Meetings of EBC Chairman with Tokyo Governor

122020 EBC White Paper –Strengthening partnerships in crisis andopportunity alike
PRODUCTION (Annual process conducted in August to November period) Committees meet and prioritise issues
 Committee members and/or the EBC Policy Director prepare respective drafts
 Chapter drafts are finalised among committee members
 Chapter drafts edited by Secretariat for content integrity and corrections are made Drafts are then edited for expression & clarity by Secretariat
 Final edited version is translated Translated version is reviewed by committees and Secretariat
 Final English and Japanese versions approved by the committees are printed

DISTRIBUTION
 EBC Members
 EU Delegation and Member State Ambassadors/Embassies
 Other EU organisations (BusinessEurope, Eurochambres, EFPIA, European politicians, etc.)
 Every Japanese politician
 Key Japanese Government officials
 Japanese organisations (Keidanren, Keizaidoyukai, industry sector organisations, etc.)

CONTENT
25 Chapters providing approximately 200 recommendations by EBC’s committees13Strengthening partnerships in crisis and opportunity alikeMajor Themes❑ Mutual recognition of standards, product certifications and marketing
authorisations, and adoption of international standards – e.g. Medical equipment,
environmental technology, retail, cars, food.
❑ Lifting of barriers, such as high costs and unnecessary bureaucracy, preventing ordelaying products from reaching the market – e.g. Food tariffs, Japan-only
product labelling requirements.
❑ Ensuring of fair competition and fair and equal treatment of all companies,
domestic and foreign – e.g. Kei car privileges, unfair competitive advantage to JAL
through government bail-out.
❑ Ensuring fairer and more open competition in services – e.g. In tendering for
public procurement contracts, improved network access for foreign telecom
carriers.
❑ Improving conditions for foreign direct investment – e.g. In banking and asset
management sectors by removing requirements unique to Japan.
❑ Further enhancing incentives for investment in R&D – e.g. Reimbursement
schemes in the healthcare sector that recognise and reward innovation.

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EBC - Some Achievements
 The regulation on wholesale liquor licensing was recently modified tofacilitate the granting of licenses for cash and carry wholesale
distributors thanks to EBC advocacy
 Pyrotechnic safety devices for motor vehicles are now subject to lessburdensome testing procedures

 More than 80% of 46 high priority food additives have now been
approved – clear roadmap for approving the remainder
 EBC lobbying instrumental in abolishing re-entry permit requirement

 In the new Pharmaceutical Affairs Law, medical devices are treatedseparately from pharmaceuticals
 Sunflower lecithin is now approved for use in the food sector
15EBC - Some Achievements
 Daytime slots at Haneda Airport have now been allocated to European
Airlines (Lufthansa, AirFrance/KLM and British Airways)
 Satisfactory progress so far in Japan’s adoption of UN Regulations
pertaining to the Whole Vehicle Type Approval system in those areas
where Japan does not accept a UN certificate as demonstratingcompliance with Japan’s type approval requirements.
 The European standard 14081-1 for design strength values for structural
lumber is now recognized in Japan. CE stamped 2”x4” products can beused in the same way as JAS certified products.
 EBC initiated and continued discussion with the European Commission
on a bilateral EU-Japan trade agreement and provided huge input to thenegotiations
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EBC - Some Achievements
 EBC lobbying was instrumental in the revised Foreign Lawyers law now
allowing foreign lawyers (Gaiben) to hire Japanese lawyers (Bengoshi)
 Similarly, EBC efforts contributed to Foreign lawyers now being allowed
to set up branch offices (albeit without bengoshi)
 EBC effectively shifted the focus of the Keidanren and Japanese
Government to non-tariff issues in discussions on a bilateral agreementwith the EU
 EBC lobbying contributed to the introduction of a triangular merger
scheme allowing foreign shares to be used as consideration in mergers
and acquisitions of Japanese companies by foreign companies
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EBC - Some Achievements
 A new immigration category of “Trainee Programme” has been openedup
 The process for determining counterfeits has been simplified in somecases
 Changes have been implemented to the Household Goods Quality
Labelling Law, partially harmonising with international standards
 Registration of foreign lawyers in Japan has been simplified, although
not yet to a satisfactory level A start has been made on opening up the Japanese procurement
market for railways
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EBC - Some Achievements
 The use of the “Suppliers Self Verification of Conformity” has been
expanded within the telecom sector
 There has been clear movement towards remote filing of customs
declarations (to be implemented by 2017) There has been progress towards increasing the allowable level offluoride in toothpaste and mouthwash products
 The National Tax Agency now recognises the importance of lot codes onliquor bottles
 Tyres that are registered in either the EU or US are now recognised as
equivalent to being registered in the Japanese Tyre Year Book improving
market access
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EBC - Some Achievements
 Administration of import notifications for cosmetics has been improved An EBC appeal at the OTO led to the approval process for low-risk
medical diagnostics products being reviewed and shortened
 MHLW has better aligned the Japanese QMS in the medical device
sector with the international standards used in the EU

 Article 821 of the new company law – EBC lobbying led to recorded
deliberations in parliament, an explanatory resolution attached to thebill, and the issuance of detailed explanatory notifications from thegovernment.
 Items resolved recently in the automobile sector - 76 GHz Radar; Closed
Crankcase Ventilation; DRL; TNS and PHP Variants; Ultra-Small Mobility,
Rim Marking of Light Alloy Disc Wheels, Definition of Vehicle Type;
Seating Space and Head Clearance.
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