Press Release: Good Progress at Second Round of EU-Japan Trade Talks

The EU and Japan on 3 July 2013 completed the second round of negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) just two months after the first round in Brussels. The second round had started on 24 June 2013.

The aim is for a comprehensive agreement on goods, services and investment, eliminating tariffs, non-tariff barriers and covering other trade-related issues, such as public procurement, regulatory issues, competition, and sustainable development. The second round of negotiations focussed on the text of the agreement in all the areas that will make up the future FTA. The negotiating sessions were divided between fourteen various working groups covering topics ranging from trade in goods, services, investment, competition, government procurement, and trade and sustainable development.

The next round of negotiations will be in Brussels on 21-25 October 2013 with a further round envisaged early 2014.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background Information: First Round of EU-Japan Trade Talks A Success http://www.europeansources.info/record/memo-first-round-of-eu-japan-trade-talks-a-success/

ESO: Background Information: Joint statement by the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, and the Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-joint-statement-by-the-president-of-the-european-commission-jose-manuel-barroso-the-president-of-the-european-council-herman-van-rompuy-and-the-prime-minister-of-japan-shinzo-abe/

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