On 1 February 2019, the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the EU and Japan came into force. It is the biggest trade deal that the EU has signed to date and represents nearly 30% of global GDP and 40% of global trade. It is also the largest open-trade zone in the world, covering 600 million people.

To make industry and trade relationships between the EU and Japan easier, bilateral dialogues and joint initiatives have been established, including the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation, which promotes all forms of industrial, trade and investment cooperation between the two regions.

Euronews spoke to Philippe de Taxis du Poët, the General Manager of the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation, to find out what support is available to SMEs trying to export to the Japanese market.

View the 2 interviews below:

EU-Japan trade deal: the opportunities for small business

Also available on: https://www.euronews.com/2019/11/01/eu-japan-trade-deal-the-opportunities-for-small-business

In this video, Euronews also interviewed the Lithuanian SME Altechna, a specialist of laser optics and coatings, that the Centre helped for accessing the Japanese market.

Doing business in the Land of the Rising Sun

Also available on: https://www.euronews.com/2019/11/01/expanding-trade-with-japan-find-out-how-on-business-planet