EBC Newsletter – June 11, 2025

This past week has been particularly dynamic for the European Business Council in Japan, both in Tokyo and in Brussels, where we joined key European counterparts for a series of high-level meetings and exchanges aimed at reinforcing support for European businesses operating globally.

The EBC was proud to take part in the annual EBO Worldwide Network meetings, bringing together about 50 representatives from across the globe. Over five days of intensive discussions, we engaged with senior officials from DG TRADE (responsible for EU policy on trade with countries outside the EU), DG INTPA (Directorate-General for International Partnerships), DG GROW (Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs), Trade Promotion Europe, and the International Trade Centre.
Key topics included:

• EU competitiveness and critical raw materials
• Clean trade partnerships under the Global Gateway
• Regulatory simplification and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D)
• Enhanced public-private cooperation and trade promotion

Strategic sessions with BusinessEurope, the European Services Forum, and Eurochambres emphasized the importance of alignment, stronger trade facilitation, and coordinated support mechanisms for businesses expanding beyond the EU.

On 4 June, the EBC met with Fabrice Terrac and Natacha Faullimmel of DG GROW’s Unit for International Value Chains. Together, we explored how to better coordinate efforts to support European companies expanding internationally, with a particular focus on the Japanese market. It was a highly constructive discussion that reaffirmed our mutual commitment to building a more efficient and coherent ecosystem for business expansion into Japan.

Also on 4 June, we had the pleasure of meeting Gunilla Fevre-Burdy of the DAG Secretariat, European Economic and Social Council. Discussions focused on the evolving EU-Japan trade relationship and the vital role of civil society in ensuring transparency and sustainability under the EU-Japan EPA. The EBC, represented by Stéfan Le Dû (Chair of the Sustainability Committee), continues to play an active role as a member of Japan’s DAG.

On 10 June in Tokyo, EBC President Laurent Depus met with Jens Eskelund, President of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China. Their dialogue covered demographic trends, regional investment shifts, and shared challenges facing European businesses across Asia. The exchange reaffirmed the importance of collaboration between business institutions operating across diverse Asian markets.

As the EU introduces new regulations in areas such as environmental policy, digital transformation, and trade, early awareness and strategic engagement are more critical than ever for businesses. This timely webinar, “Trends in EU Policy and Approaches to Engagement in the Policy-Making Process,” will explore how companies can stay ahead of evolving legislation and effectively participate in shaping policy outcomes.

Keynote speaker Shozo Maeda, Secretary General of the Japan Business Council in Europe (JBCE), will share expert insights into past and emerging EU policy trends. He will be joined by Yukako Kinoshita (Panasonic Holdings) and Hiroko Shinkai (EUJC), offering thoughtful commentary from both industry and research perspectives.

Register here on Zoom to secure your spot and gain valuable insight into navigating the EU policy landscape.

• Japan and the European Union are preparing to launch an “alliance” framework to beef up their companies’ competitiveness by promoting trade and economic security cooperation, diplomatic sources said Saturday, facing concerns over U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs and Chinese trade practices. The creation of the “Japan-EU Competitiveness Alliance” is expected to be announced at a regular summit meeting being arranged for July, when Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is likely to host European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, they said. (Kyodo News+)
• The government has a goal of realizing a steady increase in real wages of about 1% per year, according to a draft of its growth strategy “Action Plan for a New Form of Capitalism,” the details of which were learned Thursday The government aims to achieve the goal through such measures as making sure to increase prices paid by the national and local governments for orders placed with companies and other organizations in line with overall rises in commodity prices, as well as raising official prices for medical and nursing care services paid for by the public health care system, with an eye on bringing up wages, the draft says. (The Japan News)
• A surge in clean energy spending is expected to drive a record $3.3 trillion in global energy investment in 2025, despite economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Thursday. Clean energy technologies, including renewables, nuclear, and energy storage, are set to attract $2.2 trillion in investment, twice the amount expected for fossil fuels, the IEA said in its annual World Energy Investment report. (Japan Today)

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