TOKYO, July 12 — The EU has published an overall picture of the trade deal with Japan after a compromise was reached on increased market access for EU farm products in exchange for Japanese autos.
By contrast, Tokyo has no plan to disclose its view, with government officials saying “it’s because the draft has yet to be finalized.”
Japan’s opposition parties, including the Democratic Party, say they will demand from the government the same level of disclosure as the EU.
The European Commission posted on its website a document, titled Key elements of the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement, dated on July 6, the day of the announcement made by both leaders in Brussels.
The EU emphasized: “Throughout the negotiation, the Commission has put transparency first.
“Member States and the European Parliament have been informed each step of the way. Dozens of meetings to discuss the ongoing negotiations were held with members of national parliaments and civil society. The Commission made negotiating documents and reports of the negotiating rounds available online.
“Transparency will continue to be the Commission’s upmost priority until the final text of the EPA is agreed,” it said.
The Japanese farming community has criticized the government’s high level of secrecy in the ongoing Japan-EU trade negotiation, which is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year.