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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.
September 5, 2022
The EBC met with Keidanren Chairman Masakazu Tokura
September 2, 2022
EBC statement on the public offering system for offshore wind power generation
July 11, 2022
EBC Statement on Passing of Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
June 10, 2022
Joint Statement on Japan’s Entry Restrictions
June 1, 2022
The Economic Security Promotion Law and its consequences for European companies – 22 June 2022
February 9, 2022
Survey on the Impact of Entry Restrictions
February 3, 2022
Joint Statement on Entry Restrictions in Japan
UPDATES
EBC Newsletter – September 28, 2022
From the EBC Dear Friends of the EBC, While in New York for the U.N. General Assembly, Prime Minister Kishida announced the lifting of Japan’s entry restriction on October 11. From this date, independent tourists will be able to enter t
28 September, 2022EBC Newsletter – September 14, 2022
From the EBC Dear Friends of the EBC, We would like to warmly welcome the new EU Ambassador-Designate to Japan, H.E. Mr. Jean-Eric Paquet, who submitted copy of his credentials on 6 September (and will present his credentials to His Majesty th
14 September, 2022EBC Newsletter – September 7, 2022
From the EBC Dear Friends of the EBC, On 2 September 2022, the EBC issued a statement on the Japanese public tendering system for offshore wind. It was handed over to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, to the Ministry of Land
07 September, 2022- 05 September, 2022
- 22 August, 2022
30 June, 2022
30 May, 2022
26 April, 2022
DIGITAL WHITE PAPER
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NEW ISSUES
URGENT ISSUES
-
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:
Retail & Wholesalestatus:
ResolvedWith 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
- Gov’t eyes new economic package to fight inflation, weak yen (Japan Today)
- Japan’s Aug. unemployment rate falls to 2.5%, job availability rises (The Mainichi)
- Japan’s big mobile carriers say roaming needed during network outages (Japan Today)
- Japan to invest 1 tril. yen in talent development over 5 years (The Mainichi)
- Japan to run new domestic travel subsidy program until late December (Japan Today)
- Japan details October’s full tourism reopening (News on Japan)
- OECD cuts 2023 global growth outlook to 2.2% amid monetary tightening (The Mainichi)
- Kishida pitches Japan’s permanent investment tax break at New York bourse (Japan Today)
- Japan activists join global protest over climate change (The Asahi Shimbun)
- Japan PM Kishida says ready to act again to support yen (The Asahi Shimbun)
- Japan’s reopening poised to deliver vital GDP boost (News on Japan)
- Japan to launch domestic travel subsidy program on Oct. 11 (The Mainichi)
- Rise of remote work pushes 44% of major Japanese firms to rethink employee transfers (The Mainichi)
- Japan’s strict standards are delaying the restart of nuclear reactors (The Japan News)
- Japan set to waive some visa requirements in October to boost tourism: Nikkei (Japan Today)
- Gov’t to request energy-saving measures in winter over power crunch concerns (Japan Today)
- Japan logs record August trade deficit on weak yen, costly oil (The Asahi Shimbun)
- Japan’s Narita airport mulling consolidating 3 terminals (The Mainichi)
- Japan sees 87% increase in ransomware attacks in 1st half of 2022 (The Mainichi)
- Japan set to announce restart of visa-free tourist travel (News on Japan)
- Japan to allow businesses to pay salaries into app accounts (News on Japan)
- Japan warns of intervention; BOJ conducts ‘rate check’ over yen’s fall (Japan Today)
- Wholesale prices jump 9% in August as weak yen lifts import costs (Japan Today)
- Japan to expand storage battery production to meet demand (The Japan News)
- Amid energy challenges and green shift, Japan eyes new nuclear tech (The Japan Times)
- Japan Airlines’ international capacity outstrips demand, official says (The Asahi Shimbun)
- Japan govt eyes subsidies for universities to reorganize science, engineering faculties from FY23 (The Japan News)
- Japan aims to remove daily arrival cap in October to spur tourism (Kyodo News+)
- Japan liquor businesses turn to non-alcoholic drinks to attract Gen Z (The Asahi Shimbun)
- Japan to revise foreign aid charter toward ‘more strategic’ ODA use (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.