FEATURED NEWS

Recommendations for Policy Reform to Streamline Expense Settlement in Japan

PRESS RELEASE: European Business Council Welcomes Reforms to Foreign Lawyer Registration Rules in Japan

The Sustainability Imperative: Decarbonization & Nature Restoration for a Resilient Future (September 12)

2024 EBC White Paper Launching event February 29

The EBC attended the European Joint Chambers Cocktail on 12 October 2023

On 4 October, the EBC management met with a delegation of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) / Japan Follow-up Committee.

Events Calendar

UPDATES

  •   From the EBC Dear Friends of the EBC, Presentation by Jens Eskelund, Chief Representative of Maersk China and President of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China On 7 November, the EBC Logistics and Freight Committee welcomed Jens Esk

    Author ImageYoko
    13 November, 2024

  •     From the EBC Dear Friends of the EBC, National Day of the Czech Republic On 24 October, the EBC participated in the celebration of the National Day of the Czech Republic, hosted at the embassy by Czech Ambassador to Japan, H.E. Martin K

    Author ImageYoko
    06 November, 2024

  •   From the EBC Dear Friends of the EBC, Visit to the National Traffic Safety and Environment Laboratory (NTSEL) On 16 October, the EBC Railway Committee visited the National Traffic Safety and Environment Laboratory (NTSEL) to re-establish links

    Author ImageYoko
    23 October, 2024

  •     From the EBC Dear Friends of the EBC, We are pleased to share with you some highlights from the European Business Council’s activities last week and upcoming events from the EBC and other organisations. On 9 October, the European

    Author ImageYoko
    16 October, 2024

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DIGITAL WHITE PAPER

Kindly sponsored by CHANEL

NEW ISSUES

  • published_date_iconPublished:

    Clarification of unprofitable products (measures to ensure stable supply)

    Committee:
    Medical Equipment
    status:
    New

    For unprofitable requests, selection requirements and standards are not clear, and it is difficult for companies to submit unprofitable requests.

  • published_date_iconPublished:

    Treatment of the cost accounting method

    Committee:
    Medical Equipment
    status:
    New

    Base material prices for newly listed products are, in principle, calculated by the similar function comparison method. However, if the price is 0.5 times or less of the foreign average price, from the viewpoint of stable supply, there is a system for applying for calculation using the cost calculation method. However, since there is no foreign price for products that have not yet been released in foreign countries, this rule is not applicable.

  • published_date_iconPublished:

    Shelf-life and sustainability

    Committee:
    Food & Agriculture
    status:
    New

    While this issue is not based on any law or regulation, food products or beverages that do not have at least 2/3 left of the shelf-life when reaching the supermarkets, or any other retail outlet, are difficult to sell. This means that European products that due to distance have to be transported for a relatively longer period of time are more difficult to sell. It is also true for domestic products, that when reaching end of shelf-life are often discarded despite being OK for consumption. This does, unfortunately, lead to food waste. The EBC believe that the authorities have a responsibility to better promote sustainability in the food and beverage sector.

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URGENT ISSUES

No Issue found.

RESOLVED ISSUES

  • published_date_iconPublished:

    Malt and quota management system

    Committee:
    Food & Agriculture
    status:
    Resolved

    Japan had a tariff quota system for malt even from before the EPA, which introduced a quota for EU origin malt. However, only companies manufacturing beer themselves or importing exclusively for the use of a particular brewery were allowed to apply for a quota, discriminating against traders wishing to import on their own account for selling to multiple customers in small volumes or on short notice. Following multi-year efforts by the EBC and the EU, this was remedied in late 2021, opening the door to importers to provide for a large variety of EU-origin malts even in smaller quantities for the flourishing craft beer market, and for non-brewery users.  However, an administrative burden remains, which is unreasonable considering the quota is not fully utilized and all eligible quota applications are being granted.

  • published_date_iconPublished:

    Airport infrastructure

    Committee:
    Transportation & Communications
    status:
    Resolved

    The EBC encourages the continued opening up of HND airport slots. In addition, improved “on or near airport” facilities, including for catering and cargo are needed. The new air corridor at HND will enable a reduction in fuel consumption through a more direct approach, which will have a positive impact on the environment.

  • published_date_iconPublished:

    Travel restrictions

    Committee:
    Cross-Committee Issues
    status:
    Resolved

    The EBC fully understands and supports the Japanese government’s efforts to try to stem the spread of Covid-19 among the residents of Japan. However, it cannot be emphasised enough that European firms, as well as Japanese and other non-Japanese firms, have been suffering for months because they have not been able to bring in essential personnel from overseas. This is true both for specialists — such as engineers, researchers, and medical personnel — and for those in top management positions.

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Eurobiz_June2022_cover_HI

Eurobiz Japan

JUNE 2022

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NEWS FEED
  • Japan to revise duty-free rules, refund consumption tax on return (Kyodo News+)
  • Ministry to widen disclosure rules on ratio of female managers (The Asahi Shimbun)
  • Ishiba aims to keep wage hike momentum; small businesses worried (Japan Today)
  • Japan to draw up new strategy to beef up defense industry, exports (Kyodo News+)
  • Low-Carbon Power Sources Exceeded 30% in Fiscal 2023; N-Plant Restart Delays, Slow Renewable Uptake Puts Targets at Risk (The Japan News)
  • Japan to obligate up to 400 major firms to join CO2 emissions trading (Japan Today)
  • Japan to force firms with high emissions to join carbon trading (The Asahi Shimbun)
  • Govt To Conduct Geothermal Excavation Surveys; Promising Renewable Power Source Is Costly to Develop (The Japan News)
  • 5 times more women in Japan changed jobs in 2023 than 10 years earlier: report (The Mainichi)
  • Japan aims for all new vehicles to use biofuel by early 2030s (Kyodo News+)
  • Tokyo Governor Announces Plans to Develop Large-Scale Offshore Wind Farm Off Izu Coast at COP29 (The Japan News)
  • Draft of Japan Govt Economic Plan Stipulates Support for AI, Semiconductor Sectors; Increased Household Benefits, Improved Disaster Shelters also eyed (The Japan News)
  • Japan mulls revising pension payments for foreign workers (The Asahi Shimbun)
  • Japan to propose $65 bln plan to aid domestic chip industry, draft shows (The Asahi Shimbun)
  • Japan gov’t to support companies boosting geothermal power plants (Kyodo News+)
  • Finance department workers have highest job satisfaction in Japan companies: poll (The Mainichi)
  • Japan Patent Office Mulls Revising Laws to Cope With Digital Tech; Would Block Patent, Design Rights Over Misuse of AI (The Japan News)
  • Cultivating Change in Japan’s Agricultural Policy (News on Japan)
  • Japan gov’t to set up expert panel on wage hike by small firms (Kyodo News+)
  • Japan plans automated cargo transport system to relieve shortage of drivers and cut emissions (The Asahi Shimbun)
  • Japan and EU announce security and defense partnership (Japan Today)
  • Japan’s ‘My Number’ ID cards to serve as driver’s licenses from March (News on Japan)
  • Japan sets 2030 for sustainable aviation fuels to take root (The Asahi Shimbun)
  • More Japan firms seek to keep new hires by allaying assignment fears (Kyodo News+)
  • Japanese team makes concrete in different way to cut CO2 to zero (The Asahi Shimbun)
  • More Japanese firms seek to keep new hires by allaying assignment fears (Japan Today)
  • IMF cuts Japan’s 2024 growth estimate to 0.3%, lowest since pandemic (Kyodo News+)
  • Japan mulls mandatory anti-harassment steps for job-hunting students (Kyoto News+)
  • More Japan firms extend food expiration dates to reduce waste (The Mainichi)
  • Japan, Britain, Italy to speed up work on next-gen fighter jet plan (Kyodo News+)
  • Toyota, Other Japan Firms Speed Up Efforts to Reuse, Recycle EV Batteries; Keeping Key Mineral Resources in Japan Would Improve Economic Security (The Japan News)
  • Japan shifting back to nuclear to ditch coal, power AI (Japan Today)
  • Women make up 16% of executives in Japan’s top-listed firms: study (Kyodo News+)
  • Japanese Automakers Team Up on Software Development; Aim to Compete with U.S., China in SDV Market (The Japan News)
  • Rise of Spot Work Schemes Leading to Scams in Japan (The Japan News)
  • Japan, S. Korea to Expand Initiative to Cut Methane Emissions (The Japan News)

Join & Support

EBC members can not only learn about important changes taking place in Japan, but also play a critical role in influencing change themselves.

Some 300 of the over 2,500 affiliated local European companies and individuals participate directly in one or more of the EBC’s 22 industry committees covering a wide variety of economic sectors.