11/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - Parliament wants efforts on non-tariff barriers before free-trade agreement. In a resolution passed in plenary session in Strasbourg on Wednesday 11 May, the European Parliament (EP) supported the opening of negotiations on a free-trade agreement between the EU and Japan, but expects much more movement by Japan on non-tariff barriers beforehand. MEPs expressed their dissatisfaction with the “negligible progress in the High Level Group”, in which the EU and Japan have been negotiating the removal of some trade barriers. Parliament makes it clear that “significant commitments” on removing non-trade barriers and obstacles to access to Japanese public procurement are needed before any negotiations for a free-trade agreement can begin. In addition, MEPs also call for a safeguard clause to be included in any future agreement, especially in sensitive sectors such as the automotive, electronics, aviation and machinery industries. (E.H./transl.rt)