Brussels, 28/03/2014 (Agence Europe) - In Brussels on Thursday 27 March, the European and Japanese authorities started an initial round of discussions on the railway industry in the framework of free-trade negotiations with Japan, which were launched in 2013. The opening-up of public procurement in the Japanese railway sector is one of the EU's main demands in the framework of these talks.
The “railway dialogue” brought together around the table European Commission's trade, single market and transport services, as well as representatives of the public and private railway sectors of both Japan and Europe. At this stage, the aim was to carry out an exchange of information with a view to facilitating bilateral trade in the railway sector.
The European railway associations CER and UNIFE took part in this dialogue and stressed the need for a free-trade agreement to provide business opportunities for players on both sides. UNIFE added that Japan must keep its commitments to ensure a transparent and predictable application of the “operational safety clause”, which stipulates that public procurement on the operational safety of transport is excluded from the agreement. (MD)