The negotiations were officially launched on 25 March 2013 by President Jose Manuel Barroso, President Herman Van Rompuy and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

EU-Japan Trade relations

Japan is the EU's 7th largest trading partner globally and the EU’s 2nd biggest trading partner in Asia after China. Conversely, the European Union is Japan’s 3rd largest trading partner, after China and the United States. Together the European Union and Japan account for more than one third of world GDP.

Japan is the EU’s second biggest trading partner in Asia, after China. In 2011 EU exports had reached a value of €49 billion, mainly in the sectors of machinery and transport equipment, chemical products and agricultural products. In 2011 EU imports from Japan accounted for €67.5 billion, with mostly machinery and transport equipment and chemical products. In 2011, EU imports and exports of commercial services from and to Japan were €15.9 billion and €21.8 billion. Japan is a major investor in the EU. In 2011 the EU inward FDI stock had reached a value of €144.2 billion. Japan's inward FDI has increased markedly since the mid-1990s, but remains very low in comparison with other OECD countries (EU investments worth €85.8 billion in 2011).

European Commission