Brussels - Japan and the European Union has agreed to a summit meeting Saturday to start negotiations on a free trade agreement which will further enhance economic ties between two of the major economies of the world. As a block, the EU is largest economy in the world. The Japan is number four.
Negotiations will be preceded by what leaders called an "exercise in scope" to ensure that both sides share the same objectives and the level of ambition for negotiations.
At the Summit, held in the picturesque castle of Val - Duchesse, leaders also agreed to work on nuclear security in the world and create closer political ties. The meeting was attended by Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan; Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council. and Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission.
"Radiation does not stop at national borders, and should neither our collective responsibility," Barroso said at a joint after meeting press conference. "So when we talk about nuclear, we talk about world.".
Japanese officials are concerned about him be stigmatized by the nuclear accident that followed the devastating earthquake and the tsunami of March 11. They believe that tests on imports of Japanese cuisine are too stringent, even when food is produced be the site of the disaster. And they say that the loss of tourism, even in remote areas of contamination will affect the economy of the country.
Barroso sought to dispel these concerns Saturday.
"We firmly believe that the Japan is safe and open to companies", he said.
But negotiations on a free trade agreement may be difficult.
The European Union imposes a tariff of 10 percent on goods imported from the Japan, while the Japan imposes no tariff on those that are imported from the European Union.
Japanese officials told Associated Press before the meeting, they see the issue as a relatively simple.
But EU officials see it as more complex, and they insisted successfully that the talks take also in investment and account non-tariff trade. They say, for example, in public procurement EU is open and they want to ensure that it is the case in the Japan, as well.
EU officials also say that, while foreign investment are equal to 30% of the gross domestic product of the EU, in the Japan figure is of only 3 per cent, and the reasons which must be explored in the upcoming talks.
Still, all three leaders said that the benefits of the success of the negotiations would be very important. Kan, said the result "would be important to global markets."
Van Rompuy agreed.
"The economic and political results potentials are enormous, in terms of jobs, growth and a common destiny", he said.
Leaders said that, in the political sphere, the Japan and the European Union share the same values, including support for democracy and human rights and should work together to solve the problems of Middle East and North Africa, North Korea. Also, they said they would cooperate in providing leadership on the issue of climate change.
Van Rompuy is the merits of the writing of haiku, a form of Japanese poetry, and he completed his post-Summit with one earthquake, tsunami and the nuclear disaster.
"The three disasters/storms turn into a mild wind / a new wind without cruelty,"Van Rompuy has written."."
Japanese Prime Minister liked.
"It's a haiku that really touches your heart," he said.
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