Call for a Free Trade Agreement with Japan Joint statement by European business organisation
14.11.12
An FTA with Japan has the potential to improve market access and regulatory coherence, and thus expand trade and investment, enhance productivity, contribute to mutually enhanced competitiveness of both economies, promote economic growth, and increase employment. As presented in the European Commission’s Impact Assessment Report on EU and Japan Trade Relations1, an ambitious FTA could increase GDP in the EU by 1.9%2. This would translate into a €319.3 billion boost to the European economy.
Our plea refers to a deep and comprehensive Agreement, in line with the European Trade, Growth & World Affairs Strategy (2010)4, which would nourish trade potential and secure a
level playing field for European operators. Seamless, barrier-free markets between the EU and Japan would enable business to be conducted freely. Gains will be particularly significant if both tariffs and non-tariff barriers are eliminated or at least substantially reduced leading to real openness of the market. Insertion of a rendezvous clause by the European Commission in the negotiating Roadmap could be efficient for achieving this aim. The agreement should also cover significant commitments in services, in public procurement, in IPR, in investment protection and in regulatory cooperation disciplines.
The EU and Japan economic relations are vital for European companies, whose business links with Japan extend beyond import/export to include alliances and partnerships in supply
chains, joint research projects and direct investments. The EU and Japan have a shared interest to work in tandem to secure an open and free trade environment to effectively prevent the rise of protectionism which threatens to strangle economic performance globally.
Signatories:
- Cefic, the European Chemical Industry Council, is the Brussels-based organisation representing the European chemical industry. It represents 29,000 companies that produce 20 per cent of the world’s chemicals and employ 1.1 million people.
- Cerame-Unie is an umbrella organisation representing the European ceramic industry structured in eight ceramic sectors. Cerame-Unie is the voice of the European ceramic industry. It creates and maintains a constructive dialogue with the EU institutions, international partners and the social and environmental stakeholders by providing expertise in such important fields as: environment and health & safety, climate change and energy, trade, construction, raw materials, standardisation. The EU Ceramic industry is a traditional supporter of trade liberalisation. The industry has been contributing to the EU economy with a turnover of more than € 27 Billion. The EU ceramic industry provides more than 200,000 direct employment in the EU, with a high proportion of SME’s creating local jobs (around 80% of SME’s). Many companies headquartered in the EU are world leaders in ceramic product development, manufacturing and sales.
- The Confederation of National Associations of Tanners and Dressers of the European Community (COTANCE) is the representative body of the European Leather Industry. It promotes European leather both in the European and international markets. With some 25% of the world's leather production and one of the largest and most dynamic consumer markets for leather articles, Europe stands out as the leading force in international business circles in relation to leather and tanning. With a turnover of nearly €10 billion, over 3,000 companies and some 50,000 people directly employed in the sector, Europe's tanneries, mainly SMEs, demonstrate their competitiveness on the global market.
- DIGITALEUROPE represents the digital technology industry in Europe. Our 100+ members include some of the world’s largest IT, telecoms and consumer electronics companies and national associations from every part of Europe. DIGITALEUROPE wants European businesses and citizens to benefit from digital technologies and for Europe to grow, attract and sustain the world's best digital technology companies. DIGITALEUROPE ensures industry participation in the development and implementation of EU policies. Together, DIGITALEUROPE’s members represent more than10,000 companies that employ two million citizens and generate €1 trillion in revenues. Our website provides further information on our activities: http://www.digitaleurope.org
- The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) represents the pharmaceutical industry operating in Europe. Through its direct membership of 33 national associations and 35 leading pharmaceutical companies, EFPIA is the voice on the EU scene of 1,900 companies committed to researching, developing and bringing to patients new medicines that will improve health and the quality of life around the world. EFPIA Members directly employ 660,000 people in Europe.
- The European Cultural and Creative Industries Alliance (ECCIA) is composed of the five major European luxury industry associations: Circulo Fortuny (Spain), Comité Colbert (France), Fondazione Altagamma (Italy), Meisterkreis (Germany) and Walpole British Luxury (UK). Its members together represent approximately 300 of Europe’s leading luxury brands covering 14 different high-end product and service markets. This includes the high-end segment of European Watches & jewellery, Fashion, Perfumes & cosmetics, Accessories, Leather goods, Gastronomy, Furniture & furnishing , Design household equipment, Cars, Yachts, Wines & spirits, Hotels and leisure experience, Retail and Auction Houses, and Publishing. The sector employs 1,5 million people (directly and indirectly), and contributes an output of 440 billion Euros to the European economy. The sector exports 70% of its production, representing 10% of all European exports.
- European Apparel and Textile Confederation represents the European Textile and Clothing Industry accounting for € 179 billion Turnover, 1,834 million workers and 146.000 companies.
- EuroCommerce represents the retail, wholesale and international trade sectors in Europe. Its membership includes commerce federations and companies in 31 European countries. Commerce is a dynamic and labour-intensive sector, generating 11% of the EU’s GDP. Over 95% of the 6 million companies in commerce are small and medium-sized enterprises. The sector is a major source of employment creation: 31 million Europeans work in commerce.
- Eurometaux is the Brussels-based EU association of the non-ferrous metals industry, representing the main EU and international metals producers, EU and international metal commodity groups and national metal federations. The industry covers base metals (Al, Cu, Pb, Ni, Zn), precious metals (Au, Ag, PGM´s) and technical metals (e.g. Co, W, Cr, Mo, Mn), manufactured from both virgin and recycling raw materials.
- The European Services Forum (ESF) is a private sector trade association that represents the interests of the European services industry in International Trade Negotiations in Services. It comprises major European service companies at the CEO level and European service sector federations covering service sectors such as financial services, tourism, telecommunications, maritime transport, business and professional services, distribution, postal and express delivery, IT services, environmental services and the audio-visual industry.
- Founded in 1960 FESI represents the interests of the European Sporting Goods Industry. FESI’s members directly and indirectly employ about 650,000 workers in the EU with an annual European turnover of over €66 billion. 70-75% of FESI’s membership is made up of Small and Medium Enterprises. 1,800 companies are members, either directly or indirectly through national sports industry federations from Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the UK. FESI also includes some of the most renowned global sporting goods brands such as adidas and Puma from Germany or Lotto and Tecnica from Italy.
- The mission of FoodDrinkEurope is to represent the food and drink industries of the EU– the largest manufacturing sector in the EU in terms of turnover, employment and value added. FoodDrinkEurope works with European and international institutions, in order to contribute to the development of a legislative and economic framework addressing the competitiveness of industry, food quality and safety, consumer protection and respect for the environment. FoodDrinkEurope's membership consists of 26 national federations, including 3 observers, 26 European sector associations and 19 major food and drink companies. For more information on FoodDrinkEurope and its activities, visit: please visit: www.fooddrinkeurope.eu
- The FTA represents retailers, importers and brand manufacturers worldwide in the political arena and in public to achieve free trade and supports their international business by providing information and practical solutions. Furthermore, FTA seeks to improve sustainability in the international supply chain. Over 1000 member companies employ 3 million people and generate a combined turnover of €600 billion.
- IFPI (International Federation of the Phonographic Industry) represents the recording industry worldwide, with a membership comprising some 1400 record companies in 66 countries and affiliated industry associations in 45 countries. IFPI's mission is to promote the value of recorded music, safeguard the rights of record producers and expand the commercial uses of recorded music in all markets where its members operate. Our members include multinationals but also over a thousand small and independent music producers and national associations, across Europe and the world.