On Monday 26 June, European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström, said that she hoped that the EU and Japan would swiftly conclude their negotiations for a free trade agreement, which is now in a decisive phase. She also said that her chief negotiator was in Tokyo this week and said that she herself was even prepared to go there to finalise an agreement.
On Monday, Ms Malmström informed the press is that, “We are at a crucial stage of the negotiations and hope to conclude them very soon. My chief negotiator is in Tokyo this week and I have instructed him to remain there as long as it is necessary to obtain an agreement”.
The Commissioner added that, “This is an agreement that will help us to shape globalisation in line with our values. And in the current international environment, an ambitious agreement between the EU and Japan will send a powerful signal to the world that two of the largest economies of the world are ready ti stand up against protectionism”.
She also explained, “the content of the agreement is more important than the speed with which we conclude it. It is necessary we achieve a maximum at a technical level before there is a political agreement. The date of the G20 summit in Hamburg (7-8 July) was mentioned by the Presidents of the European Council (Donald Tusk) and the Commission (Jean-Claude Juncker) and by the Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, as an opportunity for announcing an agreement. My negotiator in chief is in Tokyo and I am ready to travel there, if necessary, to finalise an agreement”.
Ms Malmström also cut short the criticism made at the end of last week by the environment by the NGO, Greenpeace, which leaked several confidential negotiating documents.
The Commissioner asserted that, “Greenpeace is not particularly in favour of trade. As for the content (of its leaked documents), it is not accurate and is just a storm in a teacup. Greenpeace’s concerns have nothing to do with this agreement”.
She concluded, “Our trade agreements focus on maintaining all standards on sustainable development, social and consumer protection. None of this is negotiable. We have also made a reference to the precautionary principle”. (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)