Top > Regional Affairs > Pacific > Australia > Summary of the 5th Round of Negotiations on the Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement

Summary of the 5th Round of Negotiations on the Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement

May 1, 2008
Japanese

  1. The 5th round of negotiations on the Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) was held from April 28(Mon) to May 1 (Fri) in Canberra.
  2. In this round, Mr. Sumio Kusaka, Deputy Director General, Economic Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Masakazu Sakaguchi, Deputy Director General, Customs and Tariff Bureau, Ministry of Finance, Mr. Toshihisa Takata, Deputy Director General, Trade Policy Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and Mr. Kazuo Haraguchi, Counselor, Minister's Secretariat, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries as well as other officials from relevant Japanese ministries, and Mr. Ric Wells, First Assistant Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Head of the FTA Task Force) and other officials from relevant departments of Australia respectively participated.
  3. In this round, useful discussions were held in each area including trade in goods and services, investment, intellectual property, government procurement and energy and mineral resources. A summary of the discussion is as follows:
    • (1) In respect of market access of trade in goods, both sides had discussions on their concerns based on the content of requests and offers that had been exchanged at the previous Round of Negotiations. Regarding primary products, both sides intensively discussed on tariffs and other various measures regarding market access of dairy products and beef. The Australian side requested the Japanese side to eliminate tariffs and the related measures arguing that they impede the market access. The Japanese side explained the sensitivity of Japanese livestock industry and insisted the necessity of the present border measures. Regarding industrial products, the Japanese side requested the Australian side to improve its offer on items of concern for the Japanese side.
    • (2) In respect of trade in services and investment, both sides exchanged their respective offers on the first day of this Round of Negotiations. Both sides also continued discussions on the draft texts.
    • (3) In respect of energy and mineral resources, the Japanese side proposed the elements which should be included in the draft text regarding a stable supply of these resources and both sides discussed on it.
  4. The 6th round of negotiations will be held in Tokyo in late July, 2008. The detailed schedule will be determined through diplomatic channels.
Back to Index