ISDS Case Map
Japan
Japan plans to ask Malaysia to abandon protection of its domestic car industry during free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations this week, government sources have said.
The negotiations for the signing of the country's first free-trade agreement ended up in a stalemate again after Japan has yet to act on the request of the Philippines to allow entry to Filipino nurses, health workers and lawyers.
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi proposed concluding economic partnerships with East Asian countries as part of the nation's future policy during his tour of Southeast Asian countries in January 2002.
The failure of bilateral trade talks between Mexico and Japan on October 16 has shocked both sides, particularly Japan. The talks foundered on the question of what to do about Japan's farmers, among the most highly subsidized in the world and the power base of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
After a protracted courtship, Korea and Japan finally agreed last month to start negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA).
Let me first give you four reasons why economic partnership agreements (EPAs), which cover broader areas than free trade agreements (FTAs), are important. The first reason is that FTAs are now a world "rule of the game," and Japan is at a disadvantage in not taking part in the game.
Amid the advance of economic globalization, it is important to maintain and strengthen the free trade system. While the World Trade Organization continues to play an important role in this effort, free trade agreements (FTAs) offer a means of strengthening partnerships in areas not covered by the WTO and achieving liberalization beyond levels attainable under the WTO.
Correctly tweaked, the numbers make perfect sense - free trade agreements (FTAs) between Japan and South-east Asian countries could provide a much-needed fillip to the moribund Japanese economy, and will in turn give a boost to a region in which Japan is already the biggest investor.
-Promoting Economic Partnership Agreements with closely related
countries and regions
Free trade agreements are now becoming the rule in world trade and Japan is at a big disadvantage if it does not take part in the game.
