EBC Newsletter – July 19, 2023

EBC Newsletter – July 19, 2023

 

 

From the EBC

Dear Friends of the EBC,

The EBC was invited at the French Embassy on 14 July to celebrate the French National Day. It was a great opportunity to meet with several French companies already members of the 22 EBCcommittees and to get to know other prospective members that we can help on non-tariff barrier issues. We thank Ambassador Setton for the invitation.

The EBC Railway Committee met with Tsukuba Express on 7 July to learn more about the company and its plans for the future. Tsukuba Express runs the line between Tokyo and Tsukuba in Ibaraki Prefecture. As there are very few alternatives for passengers travelling along this line, any interruptions to the train operation drastically affect passengers. The meeting was also an opportunity for EBC members to introduce their business and how they serve the Japanese market, together with a discussion on standards, approvals and the latest developments in AI.

The EBC committees are devoted to improving the local business environment for European companies.
In general, they are working on identifying obstacles facing European companies doing business in Japan in their sector; they promote European interests in a particular issue area and liaise with relevant Government Ministries and other industry groups. If you are interested, consider contacting the EBC to join one of our committees!

This week, I would like to share the following information:

The Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI) and the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation (EUJC) will jointly host two seminars:

  • Innovation: A key pathway to Europe’s green deal and economic security (Wednesday, July 19, 2023 12:15-13:15)
    In this webinar, Mr. Jean-Eric Paquet, EU Ambassador to Japan, will present the EU’s Innovation policy, which integrates research and technology development policy with industrial policy. Innovation policy also holds a significant role in terms of economic security and serves as one of the key themes at the upcoming EU-Japan Summit, which took place in Brussels on July 13.
    Speaker: Jean-Eric Paquet (Ambassador of the European Union to Japan)
    Moderator: Yasuo TANABE (Consulting Fellow, RIETI / Executive Director, EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation)
    RIETI – Innovation: A key pathway to Europe’s green deal and economic security
  • Europe’s Response to the US’ Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) (Friday, July 21, 2023 16:00-17:00)
    In this webinar, Jeromin Zettelmeyer, head of Bruegel, a leading think tank in Europe, will be invited as a speaker to give an overview of Europe’s reaction to the US Inflation Control Law (IRA) and introduce Bruegel’s policy recommendations.
    Speaker: Jeromin ZETTELMEYER (Brugel Director)
    Commentator: Akihiko TAMURA (Consulting Fellow, RIETI / Scheduled to be appointed to the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Paris Office)
    Moderator: Yasuo TANABE (Consulting Fellow, RIETI / Executive Director, EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation)
    RIETI – Europe’s Response to the US’ Inflation Reduction Act

The EBC team is looking forward to hearing from you soon,

Valerie Moschetti
EBC Chief Operating Officer

What’s in the Media

  • The European Union said Thursday it will lift the remaining import restrictions it imposed on food products from a part of Japan after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster, as cooperation between the world’s largest trading bloc and the major Asian democracy rapidly expands in almost all realms. (Kyodo News+)
  • Global taxation reforms aimed at ensuring tech giants and other major international firms pay their fair share will come into effect in 2025, a year later than previously planned, with the nearly 140 participating countries and regions needing more time to prepare. (The Mainichi)
  • The Foreign Ministry has launched a new office to promote its official security assistance (OSA) program for security cooperation with “like-minded” countries that share diplomatic and other objectives. The ministry announced on July 11 the establishment of the security cooperation office with approximately 10 staff members to promote OSA, a new framework for providing equipment and other items to the militaries of these friendly nations. (The Asahi Shimbun)

Upcoming EBC Committee Meetings

Date Committee Time / Location
July 20 (Thu) Medical Equipment & Diagnostics Off-site
1430~
Aug 24 (Thu) Medical Equipment & Diagnostics Off-site
1430~
Aug 30 (Wed) Logistics and Freight hybrid
0900~
Sep 1 (Fri) Liquor hybrid
0830~
Sep 1 (Fri) Railways hybrid
1600~
Sep 6 (Wed) Energy hybrid
1330~
Sep 8 (Fri) Automotive Components & Aftermarket hybrid
1600~
Sep 11 (Mon) Materials hybrid
1730~
Sep 12 (Tue) Sustainability & Social Responsibility Hybrid
0930~
Sep 14 (Thu) Telecommunications Equipment Web
1000~
Sep 27 (Wed) Food & Agriculture hybrid
1730~
Sep 28 (Thu) Human Resources hybrid
0930~

If you are interested in joining a committee meeting, please contact the EBC to confirm the time and meeting place.

Stakeholders of the EBC:

European Business Council JAPAN
Toranomon Hills Business Tower 15F, 1-17-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-6415
105-6415 東京都港区虎ノ門1-17-1 虎ノ門ヒルズビジネスタワー15階
www.ebc-jp.com/