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The European Parliament’s Trade Committee gave its recommendation to approve the EU’s landmark trade agreement with Japan on Monday.
The Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and Japan will eventually remove almost all tariffs on goods. It opens up services, including e-commerce, maritime transport, postal services, energy and telecommunications. It also creates common rules for bilateral trade, and common standards for the two trading blocs.
Timely signal for fair, rules-based trade
Trade Committee MEPs emphasised that the agreement “represents a timely signal in support of open, fair, values-based and rules-based trade, while promoting high standards, at a time of serious protectionist challenges to the international order”.
The committee commented positively on the ambitious level to which tariffs are being liberalised in parallel with safeguarding sensitive sectors, for example European car manufacturing, where EU tariffs get phased out in seven years.
It also commended Japan for opening up the procurement markets, including in 54 large cities and in the railway equipment sector, allowing EU suppliers to compete on this market. Another sector that trade MEPs estimate would benefit most from the deal is agriculture and the food industry, especially wine, pork, and cheese producers.
The committee also welcomes the high level of environmental and labour protection enshrined in the deal, the commitment to the Paris Agreement to combat climate change, and encourages both parties to combat illegal logging.
For details on the most important achievements of the deal, read the explanatory memorandum of the draft recommendation.
Rules on labour and environment
Trade Committee MEPs nevertheless stressed that Japan must ratify all relevant labour codes set by the International Labour Organisation. The two remaining codes which have not yet been ratified are on discrimination and on the abolition of forced labour. They also urge the European Commission to look at how to enforce the agreed environmental and labour standards better at an upcoming review of the sustainable development chapter of the agreement.
SMEs to benefit quickly from the agreement
The committee also urges the Commission to set up contact points for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), which figure for the first time in a dedicated chapter in an EU trade deal, so that they can quickly benefit from the agreement. 78 percent of EU companies exporting to Japan are SMEs.
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The resolution was passed by 26 votes for, nine against, and two abstentions. The recommendation to consent was passed by 25 votes for, ten against, and one abstention.
Next steps
The European Parliament, which has to give its consent before the deal can enter into force, is expected to vote its consent to the agreement at its December plenary session. If the deal is approved in Parliament, it can enter into force as soon as the Japanese Diet ratifies it.
Monday November 5, 2018/ EP/ European Union.
http://www.europarl.europa.eu
