FEATURED NEWS

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.

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

Events Calendar

UPDATES

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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
  • Driver’s license info to be integrated with My Number cards from March (Japan Today)
  • Japan still far from 45% goal in attaining food self-sufficiency (The Asahi Shimbun)
  • Japan to Give New Subsidies for Domestic EV Battery Output (The Japan News)
  • Women’s wages 70-80% of men’s in Japan as gender gap remains (Japan Today)
  • Govt to Start Support Program for Medical Device Firms Entering African Market; Future Market Expansion Eyed (The Japan News)
  • Japanese Companies Increasing Efforts to Hire Foreign Students; Firms, Local Governments Help Them Acquire Skills to Find Jobs in Japan (The Japan News)
  • Online Registration of Births Now Available in Japan (News on Japan)
  • Japan to Bolster Regulatory Oversight of Tech Giants; Fair Trade Commission to Increase Dedicated Staff (The Japan News)
  • Japan mulls removing tax-free limit on consumable goods purchases (Kyodo News+)
  • Govt Aims to Help Doctorate Degree Holders Find Jobs; Aims to Boost Industrial Competitiveness (The Japan News)
  • Japanese companies look to jump on ‘neuriversity’ bandwagon (Japan Today)
  • Japan’s economy grew last quarter on healthy consumer spending and business investment (The Mainichi)
  • Financial Institutions Offer Products Covering ‘Pair Loan’ Mortgages if Spouse Dies (The Japan News)
  • Japan agency recommends largest civil servant pay rise in 3 decades (The Mainichi)
  • Japan, 5 Central Asian Nations to Cooperate on Cutting Carbon; Tokyo Seeks to Make Presence Felt in Former Soviet States (The Japan News)
  • Record 30% Japan employees took paternity leave in FY 2023 (The Mainichi)
  • Japan Lays Out Roadmap for Boosting Drug Development; Many Treatments for Cancer, Rare Diseases Still Unavailable (The Japan News)
  • Japan’s Corporate SDGs Engagement Hits Record 54.5% (News on Japan)
  • 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)

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.