The EU has repeated its desire to conclude negotiations with Japan in 2017 on a free trade agreement. The two parties are reportedly close to an agreement on services (see EUROPE 11728).
“I see no reason, at the current stage of the negotiations, not to conclude this year”, a European source stated on Monday 20 February, admitting, however, that they did not know if the negotiations would be successful “in March, June or September”. The conclusion of an agreement would...