Japan and EU Launch Trade ‘Alliance’ Amid Concerns over U.S. and China
JAPAN, JUL 23 – The alliance aims to deepen cooperation on innovation, green and digital transitions, and strengthen economic security amid rising trade tensions involving the US and China, representing a fifth of global GDP.
- Following a new U.S.-Japan tariff deal, EU and Japan launched a competitiveness alliance at the 30th EU-Japan summit in Tokyo, aiming to strengthen trade cooperation and combat economic coercion.
- With 50% U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminium, Japan endured a Chinese ban on seafood imports between August 2023 and June 2025, driving calls for deeper cooperation.
- EU firms already export €70 billion in goods and €28 billion in services to Japan, Ursula von der Leyen noted, with trade up 20% since 2019.
- With the Competitive Alliance unveiled, leaders sought to base it on `shared principles` and `common vision`, said Antonio Costa.
- Next year, EU and Japan will launch the first defense industrial dialog to reduce dependencies and build stronger ecosystems, and leaders will visit Beijing next Thursday for talks with China's top leaders.
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Seoul, Tokyo top diplomats vow to strengthen ties in 1st phone call
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun on Thursday held his first phone call with his Japanese counterpart, Takeshi Iwaya, discussing regional issues and bilateral relations, the foreign ministry said. During the conversation, Cho stressed the importance of Seoul-Tokyo relations, describing them as a key axis of the Korean government's pragmatic diplomacy, alongside trilateral cooperation with Washington. Cho, who took office on Monday, suggested the two cou…

EU and Japan agree to work together to promote free trade and economic security
Leaders of the European Union and Japan have launched an alliance aimed at boosting economic cooperation, defending free trade and countering unfair trade practices as the two sides face growing challenges from the United States and China.
Together, an economic back-up against China and the US is to be created.
The President of the European Commission traveled to Japan with Costa to meet this Thursday with the Japanese Prime Minister, with the aim of strengthening cooperation between Japan and the European Union.
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