ISDS Case Map
Japan
Australia's prospects of a trade breakthrough with Japan this week have been undermined by new regional tensions and growing domestic opposition.
Except for the areas of trade in goods and work permits for Filipino nurses, what will be achieved through the Japan-Philippines EPA is nothing more than maintaining the status quo.
Japan and India took a first step to a possible free trade deal with an agreement to spend a year looking at the effects of a pact on the two major Asian economies.
The Japanese and Indonesian governments have agreed to enter bilateral negotiations in the near future toward reaching a free trade agreement in about one year. Among the areas that will be discussed are agricultural and industrial products, natural gas and the movement of people.
Visiting Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert proposed Wednesday that the two countries should study concluding a bilateral free trade agreement when he met with Japanese trade minister Shoichi Nakagawa, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said.
Japan and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations kicked off their first round of formal negotiations in Tokyo on Wednesday for a free trade agreement with the aim of completing the talks within two years.
Issues involving tariff protection and reduction on automotive products have delayed the conclusion of talks over the planned Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA).
US and European carmakers recently demanded the Thai government exclude the automobile sector from free trade negotiations with Japan and warned that they may abandon investment in Thailand if import tariffs on Japanese luxury cars are lifted, local media reported Friday.
Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki and South Korean Finance and Economy Minister Han Duck Soo agreed Saturday to make progress by the end of the year on resuming stalled talks for a bilateral free trade agreement.
A free trade agreement (FTA) between Japan and Australia would not deal a serious blow to Japanese agricultural sectors, a senior Australian Government official says.
