11/09/2019 (Agence Europe) – Negotiations to seal an investment protection agreement (IPA) with Japan are stalled, EUROPE learned from a source close to the talks (see EUROPE 12184/3, 12178/3). It has been at least 6 months since the negotiators of this agreement, separate from the 2017 Economic Partnership Agreement, met, with the last round of talks dating back to last March. The same source admitted that Tokyo remained very sceptical about the procedures of the Investment Court System (‘ICS’) promoted by the European Union and integrated into its recent agreements with Canada (see EUROPE 11866/16) and Singapore (see EUROPE 12193/1), preferring the previous ISDS system. However, the Commission hopes that a further meeting will take place in the autumn. (HD)