The aim of this paper is to examine why the EU-Japan FTA/EPA is necessary. The European Union (EU) and Japan has been recognised as ‘natural strategic partnership’ with common interests or shared values over normal global partners (Atanassova-Cornelis, 2010: 479). Currently their relationship implicates a wider range of fields beyond trade; for instance, security, political, cultural and research cooperation; there are ongoing negotiations for Free Trade Agreement (FTA)/Economic partnership Agreement (EPA) and Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) between the EU and Japan (de Prado, 2014: 15; European Commission, 2015a). However, although both parties have had positive attitudes toward cooperation in multi-disciplines and economic dimension is predominant, the potential in trade and investment is not satisfied and underdeveloped, due to historical trade conflicts and trade share and intensity have tended to decline (Lambrecht and Pohl, 2013). The relationship between the EU and Japan has originated the EC-Japan trade from 1959; it has been changed in response to the changing world. Particularly, in the 1970s and 1980s, the world was in instability such as the Cold War and the idea of ‘Europessimism’ in Europe; both the EU and Japan had faced serious trade conflict between them and this caused political issues such as ‘Poitiers incident’ that French government imposed quota on Japanese VCRs into France; this period is classified as ‘confrontation’ and ‘friction’
Japan, as known today, is a world powerhouse in technology and innovation. It currently ranks third in GDP, bringing in over $4.9 trillion dollars per year. However, this has not always been the case. Japan is well known for its period of “Sakoku,” a Japanese word literally meaning “closed country.” From 1600-1850s, that is indeed what Japan was; Japanese citizens were not allowed to leave the country and no foreigners were allowed to enter. The country was completely isolated from the rest of the world, even in regards to trade. This was changed in 1854 by Commander Matthew Perry and his Navy squadron. With the Kanagawa Treaty, Perry ended Japan’s period of isolationism and pushed them into their future as a world power.
After the surrender of Japan in World War 2, Australia and Japan’s aggressive relationship drastically changed to one of peace and prosperity. Prior to the signing of the Agreement on Commerce between Japan and the Commonwealth of Australia in 1957, Australia and Japan’s
The main challenge about trade is the long-term condition of Japan. Although Japan performs well now, it is a receding market. There is a significant challenge for Japan in the future. It is facing a dwindling work population, as the average populace gets older. This provides a serious risk as if the workforce reduces in size so does the production. And production is one of the main factors that make Japan wealthy. In addition, even though it is the second largest economy in the world it will face high expenditure. This is a serious issue if not properly taken care of. However, a country with one of the highest GDP’s in the world is unlikely to mistreat
Japan’s decision to isolate themselves from the world created the conflict. Their decision however, was greatly influenced by the Europeans, who constantly tried to take advantage of the
On the 8th of July 2014 the Prime Minister of Australia Tony Abbott and the Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe signed the Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement (JAEPA) (Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement, 2016). This agreement has allowed for support in a two-way investment for both these countries. This agreement will bring the economies of both countries closer along their social relations (Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement, 2016). Agreements like these have led to a more successful future for Australia and Japan along with more successful trading relationships with other countries. This can be seen today though agreements such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Showa: The Japan of Hirohito, edited by Carol Gluck and Stephen R. Graubard, seeks to find the answers to many questions that are commonly asked about Japan and its history. As stated in the title, this book focuses on the Hirohito era in Japanese history from 1926 to 1989. In the Introduction, Gluck states that there were two main issues for Japan in the twentieth century, “how Japan came to aggressive war and then to macroeconomic might” (xi). The unstable relationship between Japan and the United States is also an underlying theme of the book. The three chapters to be examined in this paper are, “The Useful War,” “The People Who Invented the Mechanical Nightingale,” and “Japan Meets the United States for the Second Time.”
The first couple decades of the twentieth century Japan and the United States had increasing tension and conducted negotiations to reduce threats of conflict. Asia was the center point for both countries, and each wanted a piece of it. Competition for economic and commercial opportunities were ongoing growing with tension. Starting
few years prior to the war of America and Japan, there had been a compliance of trade. America had transported quantities of oil, tin, and rubber to their ally. Japan relied heavily on these goods, which sustained the many assaults toward their enemy of the 1930s. Uneasy it was for the Western hemispheres to support such a violent country, the final declaration was to embargo these exchanges. Deprivation of imports consequences the Eastern hemisphere’s disruption of war. Principally adding new tensions between the allies. The infamous surprise attack of Pearl Harbor, lead by Japan, began World War 2. Once allies, now becoming terrorist to the United States.
Japan and Great Britain are two geographically isolated countries that have risen to greatness despite many challenges. Both nations have overcome their relative seclusion and grasped power, despite consequences for neighboring areas. Though Japan and Britain have an abundance of similarities, differences abound as well. While Great Britain has used its location central to Europe to gain allies and form trade deals, Japan has been less than diplomatic in grasping its power from neighboring countries. Though Britain has been an example of progress and modernity for eons, Japan has pulled itself into modernity more recently.
Australia and Japan’s relationship has strengthened greatly over the last few decades. Japan has emerged from an enemy at the end of world war two to one of Australia’s most important allies today. The relationship between the two focuses on a number of areas, in particular trade, as Japan’s economy is very prosperous to Australia. Maintaining such a relationship has not always been straightforward, often presenting difficulties where the countries stray in values and opinions. Diplomats from both countries have worked hard to keep this positive relationship working. Diplomacy has allowed for Japan and Australia to receive benefits from one another while preventing major problems from arising. If troubles have developed, they have been dealt with swiftly in fear they could cause damage to the Australia-Japan relationship. Some areas the diplomatic relationship covers are the economical, cultural, security and environmental relations. Australian diplomacy has contributed to strengthening the international relationship with Japan.
Economically, Europe co-opting ideas with Asia would boost both economies especially Europe’s. Therefore, instead off trying to take over the Asian trade market, the nations should have joined forces and worked with each other’s idea. For example, instead of Britain trying to maintain dominance over
Chapter 8: International Strategy ---- P&G Japan: The SK-II Globalization Project (written by Christopher A. Bartlett)
The Trans-Pacific Partnership has been in the works between the EU and Japan since 2013 for a free trade agreement and Non-Tariff Measures in order to ease the burdens of existing trade barriers with Japan. Urgency recently developed when the Trump, the President of the United States of America, left the partnership affecting the other 11 members of the trading bloc. (EU-Japan Center for Industrial Cooperation , 2017)
Globalization has become one of the most influential forces in the twentieth century. International integration of world views, products, trade and ideas has caused a variety of states to blur the lines of their borders and be open to an international perspective. The merger of the Europeans Union, the ASEAN group in the Pacific and NAFTA in North America is reflective of the notion of globalized trade. The North American Free Trade Agreement was the largest free trade zone in the world at its conception and set an example for the future of liberalized trade. The North American Free Trade Agreement is coming into it's twentieth anniversary on January 1st, 2014. 1 NAFTA not only sought to enhance the trade of goods and services across
Globalisation has had a profound impact on the Japanese economy influencing levels of international trade, business operations, financial flows, government policy, labour markets and even environment. This movement has been driven primarily by numerous TNCs, trade liberalization, and the deregulation of the financial system, and numerous strategies adopted by the Government and Economy, resulting in the creation of a 'new' Japan.