Brussels, 23/04/2012 (Agence Europe) - With the scoping exercise for negotiations on a free-trade agreement between the EU and Japan continuing, the association EU-Japan Business Round Table (EJBRT), which defends the interests of 50 European and Japanese companies, submitted its recommendations to the president of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, on Monday 23 April, having first submitted them to the prime minister of Japan, Yoshihiko Noda, on 19 April. “All [EJBRT] members are hopeful that their recommendations will help the Japanese and European authorities take the necessary steps and make the right decisions in order to progress towards an ambitious development of trade and investment between the EU and Japan”, explained the co-president of the association, Jean-Yves Le Gall, in a press release. The EJBRT pleads in favour of an ambitious and mutually beneficial agreement for the EU and Japan, covering tariff and non-tariff barriers, public procurement, investment and the harmonisation of mutual recognition of rules and standards.
Last year, the EU and Japan agreed to extend their economic relations, against an unfavourable context for the Japanese Archipelago, which was hard hit by a natural disaster followed by nuclear accident. (EH/transl.fl)