EU-Japan partnership could set new global standards

Subject

EU-Japan cooperation.

Significance

Three agreements between the EU and Japan took effect this year after nearly eight years of negotiations. They create the worlds’ largest free trade area and largest area of ‘safe data flows’, and establish a strategic partnership promising increased cooperation in 40 fields.

Impacts

• Japanese automakers and European farmers will be the greatest beneficiaries of the bilateral free trade agreement.
• The Strategic Partnership Agreement could pave the way for joint Japan-EU security operations.
• The Data Movement Agreement will facilitate international trade in ‘big data’.
• The agreements are in part an attempt to counter China’s Belt and Road Initiative.