Brussels, 10/01/2000 (Agence Europe) - Resumption of WTO trade negotiations, negotiations over a bilateral mutual recognition agreement and deregulation in Japan will be the three main topics of the EU/Japan ministerial meeting in Brussels this Tuesday (see EUROPE of 8 January, p.6). Japanese Foreign Minister Mr. Kono should, moreover turn to the stability policy in the Balkans, in his meting with the European representative for the common foreign and security policy, Javier Solana, and with European Commissioner for Foreign Affairs Chris Patten.
At the end of the meeting between the European Commissioner for Trade, Pascal Lamy and Japanese MITI Minister Mr. Fukoya, the European Union and Japan intend presenting a joint statement confirming their support for a global negotiating round in the framework of the World Trade Organisation, in particular including trade policy, investment and the integration of developing countries in international trade.
The European Union could harden its stance regarding the deadlock in negotiations over a mutual recognition agreement, under discussion for four years now. At June's Summit, Japan undertook to rapidly complete negotiations on this agreement on the certification of electrical equipment, telecommunications equipment, chemical products and pharmaceutical products. Yet, the situation has not progressed since then and Japan seems on the whole reluctant vis-à-vis this agreement, say Community sources. The European Commission is said to be considering a "freeze" on negotiations if the Japanese Minister does not demonstrate his genuine will to conclude the agreement quickly, say the same sources.
Still commercially-speaking, the Japanese Ministers should present Tokyo's responses to proposals over the deregulation of the Japanese market as proposed by the European Commission in October.