Japan, EU may start EPA talks next spring
Yomiuri | Sep. 27, 2012
Japan, EU may start EPA talks next spring
BRUSSELS (Jiji Press)—A senior European Commission official said Tuesday that talks between the European Union and Japan to conclude a bilateral economic partnership agreement will likely begin around March.
It would be a surprise if EU member countries are unable to agree to launch EPA negotiations with Japan by Christmas, the official said.
Even if the talks start next spring, it will still take about four years to conclude negotiations, followed by an additional two years for ratification and other related procedures before an agreement can be enacted, the official said.
The remarks indicate that a Japan-EU EPA could take effect in 2018.
The EU needs consent from all 27 of its member countries before talks can begin on a free trade pact with a non-EU country.
However, Germany, France and Italy, which all have major automotive industries, remain wary of starting talks with Japan due to fears that Japanese auto imports will increase following a trade agreement.
The European Commission has suggested the EU will discontinue negotiations with Japan if it does not fulfill its promise to remove nontariff trade barriers within one year of launching EPA talks.
The proposal is a strong argument in convincing Germany, France and Italy to agree to entering talks with Japan by the end of the year, the official said.
