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Published:
Drug pricing system
Committee:
Pharmaceuticalsstatus:
NewSince 2015, including the drastic reform of NHI price system in 2018, the predictability of the Japanese pharmaceuticals market and the attractiveness of the market have been significantly reduced and drug lags and drug losses have become apparent due to repeated revisions of the rules for calculating NHI prices, including the introduction of Off-year revisions and a review of the scope of the PMP. In 2022, an expert panel on comprehensive measures to realise a rapid and stable supply of pharmaceuticals was set up within the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) to make a comprehensive proposal.
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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.
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.
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.
Events Calendar
UPDATES
EBC Newsletter – November 29, 2023
From the EBC Dear Friends of the EBC, The EBC reminds you that its traditional White Paper launching event will take place on 14 December from 16:00 at the EU Delegation in Hiroo. Some of the EBC Committees will give a brief presentation of th
29 November, 2023EBC Newsletter – November 22, 2023
From the EBC Dear Friends of the EBC, Our committees are groups where companies can, among various objectives, monitor the Japanese market, share best practices and discuss the influence of public policies on business. On 18 November, the EBC
22 November, 2023EBC Newsletter – November 15, 2023
From the EBC Dear Friends of the EBC, The EBC has had a number of interesting meetings over the past week, both in Brussels and Tokyo. On 8 November in Brussels, we met with Eva Valle Lagares, Head of Unit, Marco Chirullo, Deputy Head...
15 November, 2023EBC Newsletter – November 8, 2023
From the EBC Dear Friends of the EBC, November is a busy month for the EBC team! On 3 November, the EBC met with Céline Pajon, Research Fellow and Head of Japan Research at the French Institute of International Relations in Paris, an influenti
08 November, 2023
- 20 September, 2023
- 19 May, 2023
- 22 August, 2022
DIGITAL WHITE PAPER
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NEW ISSUES
URGENT ISSUES
RESOLVED ISSUES
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Published:
Airport infrastructure
Committee:
Transportation & Communicationsstatus:
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.
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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
- Japanese Companies Anxious about Possible PFAS Ban by EU; Chemicals Used in Semiconductors, Fire Extinguishers (The Japan News)
- Japan backs tripling global nuclear energy by 2050 (The Asahi Shimbun)
- Japan Govt Presents Draft Revision of Defense Equipment Export Guidelines; Importing Countries Must Agree to Restrictions (The Japan News)
- Tokyo Metropolitan Gov. Pre-opens Facility to Support Domestic, International Startups (The Japan News)
- Japan gov’t mulls subsidizing wages for staff working less hours to care for kids under 2 (The Mainichi)
- Japan Digital Agency Adds Domestic Firm to U.S. Tech Giants as Provider of Government Cloud Services (The Japan News)
- AI Regulations in Japan Under Development; Calls for Reform of Copyright Law by Publishers (The Japan News)
- Japan identifies 38 airports, ports for SDF use after upgrades made (The Asahi Shimbun)
- Government to heavily support semiconductor industry’s efforts (The Asahi Shimbun)
- Japan’s new foreign trainee program to enhance rights protection (Japan Today)
- Japan to Start Discussions on Driverless Transportation Next Month (The Japan News)
- Tokyo Gas starts carbon recycling, makes material in soap, fertilizer (The Asahi Shimbun)
- Japan cuts economic view, 1st in 10 months, on weak domestic demand (Kyodo News+)
- Cultural Affairs Agency Highlights Issues on AI, Copyright; Interpretation of 2018 Copyright Law Revision a Key Factor (The Japan News)
- Japan, MIT to Open Research Hub in Tokyo, as Country’s Startups See Few Investors (The Japan News)
- Japan Railway Operators Eye Net-zero CO2 Emissions Via Hydrogen Fuel Cell Trains (The Japan News)
- Tokyo ranks 3rd among 48 cities in Global Power City Index (The Asahi Shimbun)
- IPEF Ministers Vow to Cooperate in Decarbonization, Fair Economy; Agreement Expected at Thursday Summit Meeting (The Japan News)
- FTC to hire more special lawyers to keep big tech firms in check (The Asahi Shimbun)
- Japan seeks new way to collect taxes on overseas mobile games (The Asahi Shimbun)
- Japan to keep IMF’s No. 2 shareholder status even after quota reform (Japan Today)
- Japan Eyes 10 Principles for Using AI in Business; Draft Guidelines Urge Transparency, Fairness (The Japan News)
- Japan 2023 Food Exports Reach 1 Tril. Yen at Record Pace (The Japan News)
- Europe to hold competition to build space cargo ship (Japan Today)
- Major Japan business lobby to press firms for more than 4% wage hikes (Kyodo News+)
- Japan Puts Off Revising Taxation of Retirement Bonuses; Current System Favors Long-Time Employment at Same Company (The Japan News)
- Japanese Govt Plans ¥17 Trillion Stimulus Package, with Big Budgets for Tax Cuts, Space Development (The Japan News)
- Call for foreign entrepreneurs: Promote your business at GaijinPot Expo 2023 (Japan Today)
- G7 Draws Up Principles for AI Developers (The Japan News)
- Japan, Poland to Cooperate over Next-generation Reactor (The Japan News)
- 7 nations back strong supply chains for energy and food despite global tensions (Japan Today)
- Japanese Government to Subsidize Companies Expanding in Global South Including India, Southeast Asia (The Japan News)
- Japan, EU Discuss Cross-Border Data Free Flow in Osaka; Digital Trade May be Added to Existing Economic Partnership (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.