International Trade: EU-Japan promote new economic partnership agreement - by Elena Ralli

Following the postponement of the 21st Summit between Japan and the EU, the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy and the Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe spoke on the phone today regarding bilateral relations.

They agreed that Japan and the EU are global partners sharing common values and for this reason they must enhance their cooperation by establishing a new economic partnership and trade agreement.

In particular, the leaders decided to launch negotiations for an agreement covering political, global and sectoral cooperation and an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) / Free Trade Agreement (FTA). They also welcomed the start of the negotiations in April and expressed their commitment to the earliest possible conclusion of these two agreements.

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