Press Releases
Statement by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan on the delisting of the three Japan Railway Honshu companies from Japan’s schedule to the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement
1. On October 28, the European Union (EU) notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) Committee on Government Procurement of its communication on the withdrawal of the EU’s objection to the delisting of East Japan Railway company, Central Japan Railway company and West Japan Railway company (three JR Honshu companies) from Japan’s schedule to the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA). Consequently, the three JR Honshu companies have been delisted from Japan’s schedule to the GPA.
2. The Government of Japan (GOJ) has continuously approached the EU over the years on this issue. I have also actively reached out to my counterparts of EU Member States on such occasions as foreign ministerial meetings.
3. The GOJ welcomes the recent EU’s decision of the withdrawal of its objection, as it is the result of the longtime diplomatic efforts by Japan against the EU, and accelerates the Japan-EU EPA negotiations where Japan aims to reach agreement in principle during 2015.