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Published:
Sustainability
Committee:
Logistics & Freightstatus:
NewThe logistics sector is active globally all over the world and plays a major role to reach a carbon neutral society. While there are some progress in Japan, the EBC believes that there is still plenty of improvements that can be made. We are at the same time fully aware that many of the policies are globally decided.
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Published:
Overall sustainability governance
Committee:
Sustainability & Social Responsibilitystatus:
NewJapan under former Prime Minister Suga joined other countries in announcing that Japan will be carbon neutral by 2050. While the announcement was met with fanfare at the time, some of the momentum seems to have been lost. Not only where there no immediate follow-up, but concrete implementation has been slow.
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Published:
Climate action, responsible consumption and production
Committee:
Sustainability & Social Responsibilitystatus:
NewTo decouple economic growth from environmental degradation, increase resource efficiency and promote sustainable lifestyles, Japan needs to invest in renewable energy or energy savings technologies and align its business models to circular-based-economy through government promotion as well. Regarding responsible consumption and production, despite efforts on food loss and waste reduction, additional actions are still needed to further reduce food waste: it is estimated that 5.22 million tons of food waste is still produced annually in Japan.
Mr. Nikolaus Boltze, Country Representative of ThyssenKrupp and Chair of the EBC Defence and Security Committee, gives a presentation to a Dutch delegation
The EBC management met Mr. Jens Eskelund, the new President of the European Chamber in China.
The European Business Council in Japan (EBC) is pleased to announce that the 19th North America-Europe Golf Challenge in Japan 2023 will be played on Friday, 6 October at the Atsugi Kokusai C.C. in Kanagawa Prefecture.
On Thursday 24 August, the EBC Medical Equipment and IVD Committee
organised a lecture and information exchange meeting at the Akasaka
International Conference in Tokyo.
The EBC meets with the Economic & Monetary Affairs Committee of the European Parliament
The EBC President Michael Mroczek handed over the 2022 EBC White Paper to the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Poland to Japan
Events Calendar
UPDATES
EBC Newsletter – October 4, 2023
From the EBC Dear Friends of the EBC, On 16 November in the afternoon, the EBC Automotive Components and Aftermarket Committee will organise a Digital Summit that will bring together industry, policy, and advocacy leaders of the Japanes
04 October, 2023EBC Newsletter – September 27, 2023
From the EBC Dear Friends of the EBC, Yesterday, the EBC Sustainability and the EBC Energy Committees held a conference for their members on G7 energy progress under Japan’s Presidency – implications for energy diplomacy and policies with Yoko
27 September, 2023EBC Newsletter – September 20, 2023
From the EBC Dear Friends of the EBC, The EBC has been very active attending or organising various meetings these past few days. On 14 September, the EBC Committees’ chairs met to present their activities and to reflect on how to achiev
20 September, 2023
- 20 September, 2023
- 19 May, 2023
- 22 August, 2022
DIGITAL WHITE PAPER
Kindly sponsored by CHANEL
NEW ISSUES
URGENT ISSUES
RESOLVED ISSUES
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Published:
Airport infrastructure
Committee:
Transportation & Communicationsstatus:
ResolvedThe 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.
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Published:
Travel restrictions
Committee:
Cross-Committee Issuesstatus:
ResolvedThe 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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Published:
Operational Safety Clause (OSC) and public procurement
Committee:
Railwaysstatus:
ResolvedJapan and the EU are both signatories to the WTO’s Plurilateral Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA). Despite this, Japan exempts railway procurement from the provisions of the GPA. The EBC understands that the EU-Japan EPA will open up railway related procurement to EU manufacturers no more than one year after the agreement enters into force. The EBC welcomes this and is also pleased that more cities will open up their procurement market to EU suppliers.
NEWS FEED
- Kishida Aims for Commercially Viable Flexible Solar Cells by 2025 (The Japan News)
- Japan Prime Minister Touts Leadership on Regulating AI, Calls for Action on Disinformation and Copyright Protection (The Japan News)
- G7 Aid Planned for Nations that Supply Key Minerals; Aims Include Diversified Supply Chains for Decarbonization (The Japan News)
- Bank of Japan survey shows manufacturers optimistic about economy (Japan Today)
- Japan big maker sentiment up, services highest since 1991: Tankan (Kyodo News+)
- 20 Firms Link Up to Build Used Battery Market Ahead of EV Boom (The Japan News)
- Japan to Seek International Cooperation on ‘Urban Mines’; Discarded Electronic Devices are Valuable Sources of Metal (The Japan News)
- Japan plans company tax breaks to achieve economic security, wage growth (The Mainichi)
- Japan mulls support for low-income earners in new economic package (The Mainichi)
- Japan PM urges ministers to use all tools in new economic package (The Mainichi)
- Economic package to ease inflation pain, spur wage growth: Japan PM (Kyodo News+)
- Japan looks to promote electronic visas as inbound tourism recovers (Japan Today)
- Japan Biz Leader Eager to Achieve Wage Growth of over 4 Pct (The Japan News)
- Japan PM vows to set up special zones to boost foreign investment (Kyodo News+)
- Japan Digital Agency Told to Shape Up over My Number Issues; Ordered to Report by October on Measures to Improve (The Japan News)
- Japan’s new invoice system to cause higher workload, costs: study (The Mainichi)
- Kishida Vows Speedy Implementation of ‘Bold’ Economic Measures; Discussions to Begin in First Half of Next (The Japan News)
- Fukushima firms look to Europe after import ban finally lifted (The Asahi Shimbun)
- Certification System Eyed for Electronic Seals on Documents; eSeals Shown to Cut Time, Effort Verifying Materials By 98% (The Japan News)
- Japan will ensure stable energy supply even with U.S. sanctions (The Asahi Shimbun)
- Japan mulls legislating ‘security clearance’ system in 2024 (Japan Today)
- Japan labor market set for change as huge worker shortage looms (Japan Today)
- Japan Eases Criteria for Govt Cloud Management Firms; Market Currently Dominated by U.S. Giants (The Japan News)
- Japan to Reduce Price of Imported Wheat by 11％ (The Japan News)
- Ministry mulls allowing foreign drivers amid worker shortage (The Asahi Shimbun)
- Public Interest in NISA Rising Ahead of Planned Expansion (The Japan News)
- Japan looks to open transport industry to foreign drivers amid labor shortages (The Mainichi)
- International Discussions to Begin on E-fuel Rules with Japan in Lead (The Japan News)
- Japan firm unveils satellite with goal to approach space debris in world 1st (The Mainichi)
- Japan town mulls hiring foreigners as regular staff from FY 2025 (The Mainichi)
- Cultural Affairs Agency Panel Takes Up AI, Copyright Issues; Members Cite ‘Complex Risks,’ Need to Use Vari (The Japan News)
- ¥10 Billion JAXA Fund Set to Boost Space Business (The Japan News)
- Japan Aims to Establish Accurate Greenery Measurements to Determine CO2 Output (The Japan News)
- Japan Eyes 300,000 EV Charging Points by 2030 (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.