OREANDA-NEWS. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, European Council President Donald Tusk, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, French President Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and UK Prime Minister David Cameron, made the following joint statement in the margins of the G7 Summit in Ise-Shima: 

“We, the Leaders of Japan, the European Union, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom, in the margins of the G7 Summit in Ise-Shima welcome the view shared by the leaders of Japan and the European Union on the occasion of their meeting on 3 May 2016 to instruct their respective negotiators to accelerate the negotiations on the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)/Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and reaffirm our strong commitment to reach agreement in principle as early as possible in 2016. 

We commend the work of our negotiators over the last 3 years, and for the substantial progress already made. With our full backing, the negotiators are entrusted to make the efforts necessary in the coming months to move forward with the negotiations, paving the way for reaching agreement encompassing all key issues including all types of tariffs and non-tariff measures, in line with the timeline committed above in a constructive manner, based on mutual trust, toward a comprehensive, high-level and balanced agreement which further consolidates our solid trade and economic partnership.

Recognizing the strategic importance of the Japan-EU EPA/FTA, we remain committed to creating a free, fair and open international trade and economic system, which will promote stronger, sustainable and balanced growth and contribute to the creation of more jobs and economic opportunity in Japan and the European Union and to the increase of our international competitiveness.”