EU offers quake-hit Japan free trade deal
European Union leaders agreed Friday that the bloc will consider beginning negotiations with Japan for a possible free trade deal on the condition that Japan removes some of its nontariff barriers.
The move came up at a summit of European leaders as part of their assistance to Japan, which has been devastated since a magnitude 9.0 quake and ensuing tsunami on March 11.
"The forthcoming summit must be used to strengthen this relationship and bring forward our common agenda, including through the potential launch of negotiations for a free trade agreement," the leaders said in their conclusions of the two-day European Council meeting, referring to the next round of Japan-EU summit scheduled in Brussels for late May.
They added such FTA talks will be pursued "on the basis that Japan is willing to tackle inter alia the issue of nontariff barriers and restrictions on public procurement."