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Published:
Travel restrictions
Committee:
Cross-Committee IssuesThe 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:
Contribution to ”High-quality home medical care” through POCT
Committee:
IVD (In Vitro Diagnostics)status:
NewTo build comprehensive community care, it is necessary to enhance home healthcare and strengthen the function of family doctors. Performing a POCT (Point-Of-Care Testing) at home medical care is expected to improve the prognosis of patients through speedier identification of patient conditions and speedier intervention in collaboration with acute care hospitals.
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Published:
Implementation of Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) Process and Speedy Access of required tests by EUA
Committee:
IVD (In Vitro Diagnostics)status:
NewIn the event of COVID-19 pandemic, needs of transparent process like EUA were recognized. With such process, clinical tests with certain level of quality and performance can be speedily provided to the public.
November 15, 2021
Joint Statement on the Entry Restrictions in Japan
September 29, 2021
The EBC President Michael Mroczek handed over the 2020 EBC White Paper to Mr. Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for Internal Market
September 7, 2021
EBC and Keidanren united for the recognition of vaccination certificate
September 1, 2021
The European national Chambers vaccinate 4,305 people as their contribution to the fight against Covid-19
August 2, 2021
EBC Tax seminar 8 July 2021
UPDATES
EBC Newsletter – December 1, 2021
From the EBC Dear Friends of the EBC, Since Tuesday 30 November, Japan has closed its borders to foreign non-residents due to the threat of the omicron variant. The safety protocols implemented by the Japanese government – two PCR tests, one w
01 December, 2021EBC Newsletter – November 17, 2021
From the EBC Dear Friends of the EBC, The EBC and the Chambers of Commerce of the G7 countries issued a joint statement on the latest changes to the entry regulations in Japan, as well as the quarantine rules, entered into force on 8...
17 November, 2021- 15 November, 2021
EBC Newsletter – November 10, 2021
From the EBC Dear Friends of the EBC, As you know, since 8 November Japan changed its regulations regarding the entry of new expats and the quarantine. Short-term and long-term visas will be issued again if the purpose is business. It is furth
10 November, 2021
25 November, 2021
29 October, 2021
27 September, 2021
31 August, 2021
DIGITAL WHITE PAPER
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NEW ISSUES
URGENT ISSUES
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Published:
Travel restrictions
Committee:
Cross-Committee IssuesThe 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:
COVID-19
Committee:
Logistics & FreightOver a year after its outbreak COVID19 continues to affect the logistics sector. With travel restrictions all over the world, and in particular in Japan, operations are hampered. There is a need for transparent and long-term regulations and guidelines.
RESOLVED ISSUES
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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.
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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:
Shoe quotas
Committee:
VACCINESstatus:
ResolvedYearly status report: progress. With the implementation of the EPA, shoe quotas will be eliminated. In the meantime, management of such quotas is not transparent and allocations are not always awarded to real importers of shoes, leading to significant market distortions.
NEWS FEED
- Japan’s July-Sept. business investment up 1.2% on year (The Mainichi)
- Kishida taking no chances as Japan closes border over Omicron (Japan Today)
- Japan, EU leaders agree to cooperate for free, open Indo-Pacific (Japan Today)
- Japan bans all nonresident foreigners from entering amid omicron’s spread (The Japan News)
- Japan’s Oct. jobless rate improves to 2.7% as virus emergency lifted (The Mainichi)
- Japan to revive ban on new foreign arrivals Tues. over virus variant (The Mainichi)
- Govt believes economy bottomed out in May 2020 (The Japan News)
- Tokyo ranked 3rd most attractive city in Global Power Index (Japan Today)
- Japan to join global release of oil reserves (News on Japan)
- Japan to seek ILO support in firms’ human rights risk management (Japan Today)
- Japan considers letting more skilled foreign workers stay indefinitely (Japan Today)
- Government to expand research subsidy program (The Japan News)
- ¥500 billion fund to reinforce economic security (The Japan News)
- Japan to allow 5,000 entrants daily under eased COVID restrictions (Kyodo News+)
- In major shift, Japan looking to accept more foreigners indefinitely (The Asahi Shimbun)
- Japan eyes administering COVID vaccine to children aged 5-11 in Feb (Japan Today)
- Japan PM adviser keen for firms to address human rights issues (The Mainichi)
- Japan’s car exports keep plunging due to supply issues (Japan Today)
- Tax reform outline to include financial taxes (The Japan News)
- Japan to help job transfers of nonregular workers (The Japan News)
- Japan looking to beef up chip, storage battery sectors as part of stimulus plan (The Asahi Shimbun)
- Japan’s economy contracts on shrinking consumption, exports (Japan Today)
- Japan 3rd-qtr GDP down 3% amid virus emergency, slow car shipments (Kyodo News+)
- Steady need for new planes despite pandemic: Airbus (Japan Today)
- Airline sector to stay in red in 2022, demand below pre-COVID levels (The Mainichi)
- Japan’s Go To Travel subsidy program to resume possibly in February (Japan Today)
- Japan’s new stimulus to include wage hikes for care workers, nurses (Kyodo News+)
- 20 nations to join hands in promoting electric vehicles (The Japan News)
- Japan to expand booster vaccination sites to include workplaces, starting in March (The Japan News)
- Time to drop 70% reduction goal for commuters, Keidanren says (The Asahi Shimbun)
- Gov’t panel proposes more support for firms hiking wages (Japan Today)
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 23 industry committees covering a wide variety of economic sectors.