EBC Newsletter – May 20, 2026

On 12 May, the EBC met with Kazutoshi Hayashi, Director at the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ European Economic Affairs Division, to exchange views on recent developments in the EU-Japan partnership.

Discussions focused on the EU-Japan Business Round Table (BRT) held in Brussels on 16 April and the Defence Industrial Dialogue, highlighting the growing strategic importance of EU-Japan cooperation in an increasingly complex geopolitical and economic environment.

Particular attention was given to the evolving role of defence-related industries, economic resilience, and the importance of maintaining close dialogue between governments and the business community to support practical and future-oriented cooperation.

The exchange reaffirmed the importance of ensuring that European business perspectives continue to contribute to the long-term development of the Europe-Japan relationship.

Also on 12 May, the EBC met with Toshiyuki Shirai, Director of METI’s Europe Division, and Rie Kusumi, Deputy Director, to discuss key developments shaping Europe-Japan industrial and economic cooperation.

Building on discussions held during the EU-Japan Business Round Table and the Defence Industrial Dialogue in Brussels, exchanges focused on:
-Industrial competitiveness
-Economic security
-Supply chain resilience
-Defence-related cooperation

The meeting also addressed METI Minister Ryosei Akazawa’s recent visit to Europe, alongside increasing concerns regarding critical materials, rare earths, trusted supply chains, and technology leakage risks.

As economic security becomes an increasingly central policy priority globally, the EBC continues to support constructive dialogue between policymakers and industry stakeholders on both sides.

On 13 May, the EBC Food & Agriculture Committee met with the Food Labelling Division of Japan’s Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) to discuss the future of food labelling policy and digital consumer information.

Key discussions focused on:
-International standardisation efforts
-Digitalisation of food information
-QR codes and smartphone-based consumer information tools

The exchange highlighted strong common interests between Japan and Europe as both regions continue exploring how digital technologies can improve transparency and accessibility for consumers.

The meeting also reinforced the importance of continued cooperation between regulators and industry stakeholders in support of transparent, consumer-friendly, and future-oriented food policies.

Continuing its engagement with the Consumer Affairs Agency, the EBC Food & Agriculture Committee also met with the Food Safety Standards and Evaluation Division on 13 May.

The discussion covered a broad range of regulatory topics, including:
-Food additives
-Enzymes
-Food contact materials
-Standards of use

Held in a highly constructive atmosphere, the exchange enabled both sides to share perspectives on current regulatory developments and future challenges affecting the food and agriculture sector in both Japan and Europe.

The EBC highly appreciates the CAA’s openness and willingness to engage directly with industry representatives and looks forward to continuing this valuable dialogue.

On 14 May, the EBC hosted a special briefing at its Tokyo offices on the OECD Economic Survey of Japan 2026.

We were honoured to welcome Muge Adalet McGowan and Douglas Sutherland from the OECD Economics Department for an insightful discussion on Japan’s economic outlook and key policy challenges.

Topics discussed included:
-Productivity growth and business dynamism
-Innovation, digitalisation, and foreign investment
-Fiscal and monetary policy outlook
-Labour shortages and demographic challenges
-Climate policy and economic resilience

The briefing provided EBC members and European stakeholders with a valuable opportunity to engage directly with OECD economists on the policies and structural reforms shaping Japan’s future business environment.