Ambassador Katakami Addresses the Japan
Monitoring Group of INTA at the European Parliament
Ambassador Katakami recently appeared before the Japan Monitoring Group to outline the current state of play on the Japan-EU EPA. In a wide ranging address the Ambassador set out that “one of the most important issues Japan and the EU face is to establish a framework for an ever closer economic partnership through the EPA”.
Ambassador Katakami was also keen to point out the significance of the EPA considering that “worldwide rule making activities have not been progressing at desired speed, the Japan-EU EPA/FTA is significant not only for enhancing trade and investment between two parties, but also for leading such rule-making activities”.
In looking toward concluding the EPA, the Ambassador stated that “Japan aims to reach agreement in principle on the EPA/FTA during 2015”, and that “it is important to provide tangible fruit to the businesses and the societies of both Japan and the EU, as early as possible, and as rich in content as possible”.
Ambassador Katakami outlined in detail the steps that Japan is taking to ensure that the EPA is rich in content and that any concerns are addressed. On this point the Ambassador stated that “the Japanese government has taken the requests seriously to facilitate business submitted by the EU and has always made their utmost efforts to address the requests accordingly”.
Ambassador Katakami closed his remarks by expressing his appreciation to the European Parliament for its continued interest and work on the Japan-EU EPA.