Brussels, 13/04/2011 (Agence Europe) - In the face of the scale of the natural disaster which wreaked havoc on Japan on 11 March, the European Council of 25 March backed the idea of a bilateral free trade agreement which had been in the air since last autumn. However, if it wants to open negotiations on such an agreement, Japan will have to show that it is willing to further open its market to EU exports, warned EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht on 12 April, repeating the conditions set by the EU: Tokyo must address non-tariff barriers and restrictions on public contracts. “We would be prepared to start negotiations provided that the conditions are met and that we are sure we share the same level of ambition”, De Gucht said on Tuesday. Hitherto, Tokyo has proposed solutions to three of the list of 27 Japanese non-tariff barriers imposed highlighted by the EU, ranging from the motor car sector to food additives. “We've told them they should make a considerable effort. But results up to now are slow”, De Gucht commented. (E.H./transl.rt)