Brussels is close to signing a deal with Japan. This sentiment is quite antithetical to what went down with the EU-Canada trade pact (CETA) that was nearly brought to its knees last month. Now, things are quite different…which is quite surprising. As Alan Beattie, noted, Japan and Europe are having a much easier time making deals. He said that: “it seems remarkable that a country like Japan with an economy three times the size of Canada’s might be about to sign a trade deal with the EU with about a tenth of the hassle.” But it is unlikely that this will be the case with this deal. EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmström stressed their commitment toward finalization of the deal.
The agreement is quite similar to the CETA one although somewhat dissimilar just due to the logistics: Canada’s economy is a third in size of Japan’s. The subjects still under discussion include: Japan’s auto industry regulations, amount of European agriculture exports allowed to Japan and the establishment of an investment court so that state/corporation disputes may be solved.
Currently the Japanese are stalling on the court; they are not convinced it is needed. The problem was inadequate provisions to ease legal action between such bodies when decisions made by nations hamper companies profits.
Meanwhile, vis-à-vis safety, a new network has been established by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to bolster Europe and Central Asia’s nuclear and radiation safety. They are doing this by pushing dialogue and the exchange of knowledge between these regions’ member states. When the EuCAS Network (European and Central Asian Safety Network) was first formed, it was to unite 20 member states and 22 organizations and help them take equal responsibility for nuclear safety.