Joint Press Release with the Ministry of Foreign AffairsFirst Round of Negotiations on a Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)

The first round of negotiations on a Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) was held in Brussels, Belgium, from April 15 to 19.

The meeting was attended by, on the Japanese side, Mr. Jun Yokota, Special Representative of the Government of Japan in charge of the Japan-EU EPA negotiations (Chief Negotiator), Mr. Hirofumi Katase, Director-General for Trade Policy, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and representatives from other relevant ministries and on the EU side, Mr. Mauro Petriccione, Director for Asia and Latin America, Directorate General for Trade, the European Commission (Chief Negotiator) and other representatives.

At the meeting, the two sides exchanged and shared views on negotiating areas and procedure. At expert-level meetings, discussion took place on trade in goods, trade in services, investment, intellectual property rights, non-tariff measures, government procurement and others.

The next round of negotiations is scheduled to take place in Tokyo in the week of June 24th.

April 19, 2013

• Economic Partnership Division, Trade Policy Bureau
• Europe Division, Trade Policy Bureau