Factsheet: EPA & Contractual Service Suppliers
Contractual Service Suppliers and Independent Professionals of the EU are allowed to supply services and engage in business activities in Japan. Engineer or Specialist in international services and humanities previously recognised. The EPA specifies 38 sectors for CSS. Contractual Service Suppliers generally depend on EU-based employers.
Factsheet: EPA & Independent Professionals
The EPA’s schedule of Japan lists 38 sectors where specific commitments apply. There are no quotas for those professionals entering Japan. Professionals of the EU covered by Annex 8-B (Annex III) depend on EU-based employers, whereas professionals of the EU covered by Annex 8-B (Annex IV) do not depend on EU-based employers.
Factsheet: EPA & Short-term Business Visitors
The EU-Japan EPA grants professionals from EU countries access to Japan beyond what is secured by GATS. Access for short term business visitors (STBV) is outlined in the treaty for those employed by firms doing business in the host country. There are no quotas for STBV.STBV are tied to EU-based employers.
Factsheet: EPA & Investors and Business Visitors for Investment Purposes
Access for business visitors for investment purposes (BVIP) is outlined in the treaty for those employed by firms doing business in Japan and the European Union. No quotas for business visitors from the European Union entering Japan for investment purposes. Professionals of the EU covered by 8-B Annex III are generally tied to EU-based employers.
Factsheet: EPA & Intra-Corporate Transferees
The EU-Japan EPA grants access to professionals beyond what is secured by GATS. There are no quotas for business visitors for establishment purposes, intra-corporate transferees or investors from the European Union entering Japan. Professionals of the EU covered by 8-B Annex III are generally tied to EU-based employers.
Report: Techniques for effective virtual communication with Japanese partners
The authors of this report developed a series of tools and techniques for perfecting ways of navigating virtual communication and interaction with Japanese partners. At any stage in a business relationship and whatever the precise business format both European and Japanese companies will benefit from those insights into Japanese strategic and tactical thinking.
Report: The Japanese jewellery market
The aim of this report is to present an overview of trends and opportunities on the Japanese jewellery market, drawn from the experiences of European companies, and to deliver strategic insight, tactical guidance and real-life examples of how to succeed in the Japanese jewellery market.
Report: Latest trends in biotechnology research in Japan
Japan spends consistently over 3% of its GDP on R&D, of which some 70% come from industry. Concerning biotech-related R&D, more than half is directed towards pharmaceutical and medical goals, but agricultural, industrial and environmental biotech are recently getting more attention in view of a future “bioeconomy” based on “smart cells” and a better integration of biological and digital innovations.
Report: e-Health and Telemedicine in Japan
Japan society has been late in digitisation, but the government tries to speed this up, among other things, to reduce the cost of health care. This is an excellent opportunity for EU companies with exciting solutions.
Hydrogen taxis | Hype x Air Liquide x Idex x Toyota Motor
Three French companies – hydrogen taxi company Hype, industrial gas supplier Air Liquide, and energy supplier Idex – joined forces with Japanese car manufacturer Toyota Motor in 2019 to form HysetCo, a joint-venture determined to bring a change to the mobility landscape. Together, they deploy in Paris the world’s largest fleet of hydrogen taxis.
EPA Handbook – a guide to help EU SMEs import Japanese products

Would you like to start importing food or non-food stuffs from Japan, but are unsure what 'preferential tariff treatment', 'rules of origin' and 'HS codes' are?

Japanese Industry and Policy News April 2021

JAPANESE INDUSTRY AND POLICY NEWS April, 2021

EU-Japan Centre's News

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The EU Business Hub @ Semicon Japan 2025 Business Mission, taking place from 15 - 19 December 2025…
The EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation is recruiting a Project Coordinator in Brussels,…
The EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation is recruiting a Project Coordinator in Brussels,…
The Minerva Policy Reports deliver comprehensive research on the dynamic political, economic, and…
The EU Japan Centre is releasing a weekly press review covering Japan's economic and policy matters…
The EU Japan Centre is releasing a weekly press review covering Japan's economic and policy matters…

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14/07/2025
As AI storms industry and captures headlines, the EU lit the first torch with Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 on July 12, 2024, prompting other jurisdictions to set their own rules. On May 28, 2025, Japan…
Japan
06/10/2025 - 10/10/2025
Mission dates: 06 - 10 Oct 2025 Applications are now closed for this year session.  Are you running a business that operates in the Biotech and Pharma sector? Would you like to present your …
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