19th Annual meeting of the EU-Japan Business Round Table
Speech by Lowri Evans
Brussels, 11th July 2017
Name of the Director who has cleared the material: E. Mamer
BASIS request ID: 5460
Room, time: Palais d'Egmont- Marble Gallery- 18h00
Participants:
,
, A. Peltomäki, METI and MOFA representatives, BRT
co-chairs
Name of main contact person:
Telephone number:
Directorate/Unit: A/4
SPEAKING POINTS
Scene setter/Context of the meeting:
•
The EU-Japan Business Round Table (BRT) was established in
its current form in 1999 to foster communication between the
Japanese and European industries. Its members are senior
executives from some 50 leading European and Japanese
companies. Its main objectives are to submit recommendations
to the Japanese and European Authorities so as to help develop
trade and investment between the EU and Japan, and to
encourage industrial cooperation in fields of common interest
such as innovation, climate change, or industrial standards.
This year the BRT takes place at a very positive moment i.e.
just after the conclusion of the FTA/EPA negotiations. This is
something which was long awaited by the BRT's members and will
likely dominate the debates.
High representatives of the Commission will participate in
the BRT meetings i.e. VP. Katainen, C. Malmström and likely VP
Ansip. On the Japanese side, the Minister in charge of Economy,
Trade and Industry (METI),
will attend the dinner.
This is also the first meeting under the chairmanship of
– Civil Aerospace) from Rolls-Royce on the
EU side.
A. Peltomäki will attend part of the BRT meeting in the
afternoon in the "Joint session with the authorities". He will
discuss "regulatory cooperation".
Choreography of the reception and exact timing for the
speech : TBC
The three key messages:
1. The conclusion of the FTA negotiations between two
important developed economic entities sends a very
positive signal to those who oppose globalisation and want
to go back to protectionism.
2. Necessity to take into account the global value chains to
adopt the right policies and eliminate obstacles where they
are.
3. We are willing to continue supporting the BRT through the
EU-Japan Centre to help us on this way.
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19th Annual meeting of the EU-Japan Business Round
Table
Speech by Lowri Evans
Brussels, 11th July 2017
Thank the Business Round Table for the invitation and
for the opportunity to celebrate together the
conclusion of the FTA negotiations which will seal a
strategic alliance between two major partners.
Trade agreements in the EU are nowadays subject at
the same time to increasing expectations and scrutiny
from both the legislator and the civil society.
The conclusion in principle of the FTA which should
soon start producing high economic value and
benefits for our citizens, our workers and our
enterprises is therefore very positive news.
Our agreement will project a strong message to those
who want to return to protectionism.
As far as we are concerned, "there is no protection in
protectionism" as President Juncker said. Only by
working together we will be able to shape
globalisation and the rules of global trade according
to our core values.
It will demonstrate our capacity and willingness to
conclude major trade agreements with major
partners.
We all know that Free trade agreements are good for
the economy overall, but we should not forget they
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will mean little to our citizens if theirs benefits are
not shared fairly and more evenly.
• Besides pointing out trade irritants or lacunas on
both sides, the BRT has pleaded in favour of FTA
negotiations from the very beginning.
So, today the BRT can be proud of its role.
As representatives of the business community it will
be your duty to make the most of the opportunities
offered by the FTA and to stress its positive returns to
workers and to consumers.
The way we take into account global value chains is
also important.
Both tariff and non-tariff measures that were limiting
our business relation have been successfully
addressed in the FTA negotiations.
This will allow preserving or developing value chains
to ensure our respective competitiveness in return.
Regulatory dialogues are also an essential part of our
relationship.
We had recently a Dialogue between DG GROW and
METI where we exchanged views on our respective
policies.
Both economies have common challenges and share
the same ambitions.
As authorities we have established a close
relationship and we can develop common strategies
where necessary.
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Today governmental authorities also talked with
Industry.
Both mechanisms are complementary and should be
continued.
In this context, we are thankful to the BRT for their
valuable recommendations such as, to name a few,
the ones related to international standardisation,
support to SMEs, pharmaceuticals, cybersecurity or
energy policies.
We are also thankful to the EU-Japan Centre for
Industrial Cooperation for the support offered to the
BRT.
All this common work and this major success that is
the FTA strengthen our profound conviction that we
are today on the right track.
So let's make a toast to the conclusion of the FTA
negotiations as well as to the conclusion of your
successful debates today.
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