The European Parliament’s international trade committee voted 25-10 today to approve the EU-Japan trade deal signed back in July 17, 2018. The deal could now be sent to the full chamber for a vote in December plenary session. And, if it’s approved, the deal could enter into force as soon as the Japanese Diet ratifies it.
In short, the EU-Japan trade deal will create a trade zone of 600m people, covering a third of of global GDP and around 40% of global trade. Eventually, the deal will remove almost all customs duties, worth roughly EUR 1B annually on European products and services exported to Japan.
The European Parliament’s Trade Committee MEPs emphasized that the agreement “represents a timely signal in support of open, fair, values-based and rules-based trade, while promoting high standards, at a time of serious protectionist challenges to the international order”.
