Joint Press Release with the Ministry of Foreign AffairsSummary of the Second Round of Negotiations for Japan-Colombia Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)

1. From Monday May 20 to 24, the second round of negotiations for the Economic Partnership Agreement between Japan and Colombia was held in Cali, Colombia.
2. From the Japanese side, Mr. Jun Yokota, Ambassador in charge of Economic Diplomacy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Yasunori Nakayama, Deputy Director-General for International Trade Policy, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and representatives from other relevant ministries attended the meeting. From the Colombian side, Mr. Javier Humberto Gamboa Benavides, Chief Negotiator, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, and representatives from other relevant ministries attended the meeting.
3. In this round of negotiations, progress has been achieved through negotiations in areas including Trade in Goods and Services, Rules of Origin, Customs Procedures, Intellectual Property, Competition, Cooperation, Improvement of Business Environment.
4. Both sides decided to hold the third round of negotiations in Tokyo, and the dates would be decided through diplomatic channels.

May 27, 2013

Economic Partnership Division, Trade Policy Bureau