Providing 13.8 million jobs, the automotive industry is a key EU employer. Due to its strong economic links to many other industrial sectors, it has an important multiplier effect in the economy. The automotive industry is also a key sector in Japan and represents the core of the Japanese manufacturing sector: 8.3% of the population was employed in automotive-related jobs in 2015. The EU-Japan EPA represents new opportunities to EU companies seeking to export vehicles and parts products to Japan. EU exports of vehicles and parts thereof have been liberalised and enter duty free in Japan and a majority of these tariff lines have been liberalised at MFN level while others were liberalised at the entry into force of the EPA, as a concession in this Agreement.
The complete text of the EPA, and Annexes, incorporating the Articles on vehicles, can be found on the following website of the European Commission:
A factsheet has been published on this topic. Please click here to get access.
In addition, webinars were organised on this topic:
This website and related activities are managed by the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation, a joint venture between the European Commission's Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW) and the Japanese Government's Ministry of Economy, Trade & Industry (METI).
This support is available for EU companies only. Please note that the validation process may take up to a couple of days and will be confirmed to you by email.
Hundreds of web pages with up-to-date information on Japan, more than 400 market reports and recorded webinars available as well as a lot of detailed information on Japanese business culture.