Summary of the Second Meeting of the Japan-EU EPA Joint Committee
2021/2/2
February 1st, 2021
Summary of the Second Meeting of the Japan-EU EPA Joint Committee
The second meeting of the Japan-EU EPA (Economic Partnership Agreement) Joint Committee was held by video conference for an hour and a half on February 1st from 11:00 (Brussels time) co-chaired by Foreign Minister MOTEGI Toshimitsu from Japan side and Mr. Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for an Economy that Works for People and European Commissioner for Trade from the EU side.
The decisions made and discussion between the two Parties focused on the following areas and points of interests:
- Adoption of Amendments of ANNEXES 14-A and 14-B (addition of 28 new names to be protected as GIs (Geographical Indications) under the Japan-EU EPA for Japan and the EU respectively.)
- Adoption of Amendments of APPENDICES 2-C-1 and 2-C-2 (the status of application of UN regulations on motor vehicles and parts after entry into force of the Japan-EU EPA)
- Reviewing implementation of the EPA since its entry into force.
- Both Parties coincided to engage in exploratory talks to reassess the need for inclusion of provisions on the free flow of data to the EPA.
- Global issues such as response to the COVID-19 pandemic, green, digital and the WTO reform.
- Further cooperation between Japan and EU on the issues, including how to minimise the impact of the withdrawal of the UK from the EU and lifting of import measures on Japanese food products that have been introduced following the Great East Japan Earthquake.
On this occasion, co-chairs also discussed the recently introduced EU mechanism for transparency and authorisation for exports of COVID-19 vaccines and confirmed to continue close cooperation.
END