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Policy Positions
2010August 4, 2010 EBC Medical Diagnostics Committee
Statement – (English | Japanese) The Japan Association of Clinical Reagents Industries (JACRI), the American Medical Devices and Diagnostics Manufacturers Association’s In Vitro Diagnostics Committee (AMDD) and the European Business Council’s Medical Diagnostics Committee (EBC) have issued a joint position paper on the regulatory environment of in vitro diagnostic products used for clinical testing in Japan.  June 25, 2010 EU and Japan sign agreement for mutal recognition of Authorised Economic Operators
Press Release – (English) On June 24, the EU and Japan signed an agreement giving mutual recognition of each other's certified Authorised Economic Operators (AEO). Companies classified as AEO have been certified as having invested in securing their supply chains. The advantage of certification as an AEO is facilitation of cross-border customs procedures. With this agreement, the EU and Japan have accepted the equivalence of their AEO programmes and will recognise each other's security certified operators. May 21, 2010 "European Union, United States Raise Shared Concerns on Japan Post" The EBC welcomes the joint EU and U.S. Government efforts to address level playing field concerns with regard to Japan Post’s giant insurance entity. On Friday, May 21, EU and U.S. negotiators met jointly with their Japanese counterparts in Geneva to express specific concerns about Japan’s ongoing postal restructuring effort in the context of its obligations under the WTO’s General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). The EBC is grateful for the work being done by the EU and U.S. Governments to engage with Japan regarding the competitive advantages Japan Post Insurance enjoys and how to address these advantages in a manner consistent with Japan’s GATS obligations. The EBC has long held that Japan Post Insurance should not be allowed to offer new or expanded products until there is a level playing field between it and private sector companies. We urge the Government of Japan to take action to address these concerns in the postal legislation currently under consideration and accord European insurers the equal treatment they are due under the GATS.
Press Release – (English)April 26, 2010 EBC Medical Equipment Committee The European Business Council in Japan (EBC), together with American Medical Device and Diagnostics Manufacturers' Association (AMDD) and The Japan Federation of Medical Devices Associations (JFMDA) have produced a paper in response to the "Strategy for becoming a world health power through life innovation". This paper reaffirms the joint posiiton of both foreign and domestic industry organisations. Statement – (Japanese) April 22, 2010 “EU-Japan business: gearing up for the next decade” The EU-Japan Business Round Table was successfully concluded on April 19-20 in Tokyo and for the first time in the Round Table's 11-year history, a unified recommendation was made to both the Japanese and European Authorities to start negotiations on a balanced and mutually beneficial bilateral agreement. Report – (English) Press Release – (English) April 8, 2010 Breakfast Briefing with DPJ International Department Director-General Fujita The EBC met with DPJ International Department Director-General, Mr.Yukihisa Fujita, to discuss further development of economic relations between the EU and Japan. Article – (English) April 5, 2010 Japan-EU Summit a chance to chart new decade of change European think-tank, Copenhagen Economics, has conducted a major study for the European Commission on the economic impact both for the EU and Japan of dismantling both tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade under an EU-Japan Economic Integration Agreement.
Article – (English) Read Online – (English) March 2, 2010 EBC Comments on the Japan Postal Reform Preliminary Draft EBC together with numerous international organisations are of the opinion the Postal Reform Preliminary Draft, if implemented, would be would not be in line with Japan’s international obligations and best practices to provide a level playing field between the Japan Post entities and private banks, insurers, and delivery companies.
Statement – (English | Japanese) February 16, 2010 EBC visits MLIT International Affairs Vice-Minister Ohkuchi The EBC met with Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Vice Minister for International Affairs, Mr. Seiichi Ohkuchi to present the 2009 White Paper report on the Japanese business environment. Article – (English) February 10, 2010 New study shows the advantages of an Economic Integration Agreement -EIA European think-tank, Copenhagen Economics, has conducted a major study for the European Commission on the economic impact both for the EU and Japan of dismantling both tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade under an EU-Japan Economic Integration Agreement.
Article – (English)Report – (English) January 29, 2010 EBC visits State Minister of Postal and Financial Affairs Kamei The EBC was invited by the State Minister of Postal and Financial affairs, Mr. Shizuka Kamei, to present the EBC's views on postal privatisation. EBC Chairman Tommy Kullberg, Insurance Committee Chairman John Kakinuki, Insurance Committee member Richard Sutton, EBC Executive Director Alison Murray, and Policy Director Bjorn Kongstad, attended the meeting. Article – (English) January 20, 2010 EBC Insurance Committee The EBC Insurance committee issued a public commentary on Japan Post privatisation to the Postal reform committee at the Cabinet Office. Statement – (Japanese) View Policy Positions from previous years: 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 |
