Mode Four of GATS may cover a wide range of persons, from high-level engineers to unskilled workers. In the FTA, Japan mainly commits with respect to highly qualified professionals. Those commitments go substantially beyond Japan’s commitments under the GATS. Japan also has a number of other economic partnership treaties granting access to foreign professionals of various categories.

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.

To read the factsheet, please click here.

The complete text of the EPA, and Annexes can be found on the following website of the European Commission: http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/press/index.cfm?id=1684.