FEATURED NEWS

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.

On 4 October 2023, the EBC attended the reception for the Day of German Unity.

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.

Events Calendar

UPDATES

  •     From the EBC Dear Friends of the EBC, On 17 July 17, some members of the EBC had the privilege of attending a seminar on Foreign Direct Investment in Japan, organised by IBA Japan and presented by Mr. Mitsuru Myochin, Director General o

    Author ImageYoko
    24 July, 2024

  •   From the EBC Dear Friends of the EBC, On 10 July, the EBC Food and Agriculture Committee had a productive meeting with the Food Safety Standards and Evaluation Division of the Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA). This Division recently moved from th

    Author ImageYoko
    17 July, 2024

  •   From the EBC Dear Friends of the EBC, On 28 June, the EBC Railway Committee met with Tokyo Metro to discuss the forthcoming workshop between the EBC Railway Committee and selected Japanese railway operators. This workshop is part of an ongoing

    Author ImageYoko
    03 July, 2024

  •   From the EBC Dear Friends of the EBC, Last week, the EBC Automotive Components Committee hosted a speaker event featuring Yutaka Kondo from Tier IV, the leading Japanese autonomous driving startup. Mr. Kondo guided attendees through advancemen

    Author ImageYoko
    26 June, 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:
    解決済み

    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 PM Kishida eyes legislation to boost domestic chip production (Kyodo News+)
  • Japan, Sweden agree to promote defense equipment cooperation (The Mainichi)
  • Japan, Britain, Italy agree to advance fighter jet co-development (The Mainichi)
  • Japan health ministry to mandate firms to take measures against ‘customer harassment'(The Mainichi)
  • Unlisted firms to be required to raise job status of female staff (The Asahi Shimbun)
  • Pension Reform in Japan Delayed (News on Japan)
  • Japan gov’t cuts GDP growth outlook to 0.9% from 1.3% in FY 2024 (The Mainichi)
  • IMF cuts 2024 growth forecasts for Japan, U.S., revises China’s up (The Mainichi)
  • Japan to boost jet fuel production and imports amid tourism boom (Japan Today)
  • Japan to mull setting target of 60-66% emissions cut by FY 2035 (Kyodo News+)
  • Kansai, Kobe airports to add slots with an eye on 2025 Expo (The Asahi Shimbun)
  • Japan aligning with U.S., Europe on offshore wind power (Japan Today)
  • Danish Ambassador Expects Japan, NATO Ties to Become Stronger; Security Environment Now More Complex (The Japan News)
  • Japan still lags as renewables account for 25% of power output (The Asahi Shimbun)
  • Telecom giants launching plans to build network in outer space (The Asahi Shimbun)
  • Japan Tire Makers Release New Products Exclusively for EVs (The Japan News)
  • Japan Downgrades Q1 GDP on Construction Data Corrections (The Japan News)
  • Japan to revamp women’s empowerment forum, focus on youth development (Japan Today)
  • Japan to obligate manufacturers to use recycled plastics (Kyodo News+)
  • Japan To Extend Emissions Reduction Trading Projects To Agricultural Sector; Will Offer Intermittent Irrigation Method to Philippines, Vietnam (The Japan News)
  • Japan to popularize online birth registration by FY 2026 (Kyodo News+)
  • Japan to face 36% truck driver shortfall in FY 2030: think tank (Kyodo News+)
  • Cabinet Approves 3 Key Economic Plans; Aims to Create Stability Amid Population Decline, Break Free of Deflation (The Japan News)
  • Online Travel Authorization Platform for Foreign Visitors to be Introduced; Modeled on U.S.’ ESTA Program (The Japan News)
  • Japan’s Transport Ministry Proposes Automated Logistics Link Between Tokyo and Osaka (The Japan News)
  • EU seeks defense industry partnerships with Japan, S Korea: Nikkei (Japan Today)
  • Japan preparing to accept more foreign care workers into understaffed sector (The Mainichi)
  • Japan improves annual SDGs rank despite sluggish progress (The Asahi Shimbun)
  • Japan Seeks to Expand Domestic Semiconductor Production; Local Governments Anticipate Economic Benefits From Plants (The Japan News)
  • Japan enacts laws for new foreign worker scheme amid labor crisis (Kyodo News+)
  • Japan to allow building new reactors if others are dismantled (The Asahi Shimbun)
  • Govt Draft Report Unveils Japan’s Plans to Promote Level 4 Autonomous Driving Nationwide by Fiscal 2025 (The Japan News)
  • Japan ranks 118th in 2024 gender gap report (Japan Today)
  • Japan plans to require more firms to disclose gender pay gap data (Kyodo News+)
  • Japan to step up enrollment of foreign residents in pension system (Kyodo News+)
  • Keidanren calls for introducing dual-surname system quickly (The Asahi Shimbun)

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.