05/03/2014 (Agence Europe) - Fifth round of free trade negotiations at end of March. On 31 March-4 April, European and Japanese negotiators will be meeting again in Tokyo. In April, the EU will then proceed to examining the progress made by Japan on lifting trade barriers, planned a year after negotiations, and which can lead to their suspension, if progress is deemed insufficient. The Europeans expect strict reciprocity in these negotiations between tariff liberalisation for the EU and the lifting of around 30 non-tariff barriers in Japan, which can take the form of stricter security and approval standards for a variety of different sectors including the car, rail transport, medicines and food sectors. The agreement currently being discussed covers goods and services, investment, public procurement and intellectual property. The EU will be drawing up a political balance sheet during the meeting of European trade ministers on 8 June, according to an announcement made by European Commissioner for Trade Karel De Gucht last week. (EH)