About: Japan

Asia-Pacific closes in on world’s biggest trade deal

Fifteen Asia-Pacific economies are set to conclude talks on Sunday (15 November) and sign what could become the world’s largest free trade agreement, covering nearly a third of the global population and about 30% of its global gross domestic product.

Hydrogen trade hopes boosted by Australia-Germany deal

A bilateral agreement aimed at increasing German imports of hydrogen produced from solar power plants in Australia could set a milestone in efforts to establish a global hydrogen market.

Japan matches EU climate pledge with net-zero carbon goal for 2050

Japan will join the EU in aiming for net zero emissions by 2050, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced on Monday (26 October).

Britain signs first major post-Brexit trade deal with Japan

Britain and Japan formally signed a trade agreement on Friday (23 October), marking the UK's first big post-Brexit deal on trade, as it continues to struggle to agree on a deal with its closest trading partners in the European Union.

Major economies talk green recovery, hydrogen at Japanese summit

Major economies promised to recover green after COVID-19 and accelerate climate action during a virtual ministerial meeting hosted by Japan on Thursday (3 September). EURACTIV's media partner, Climate Home News, reports.

World’s first ‘carbon-capture at sea’ set for shipping trials

Japanese shipbuilding giant Mitsubishi announced on Monday (31 August) that it will build and test a carbon-capture system for ships, which is aimed at significantly reducing the emissions of the maritime sector.

Hiroshima marks 75 years since atomic bombing in scaled-back ceremony

Bells tolled in Hiroshima on Thursday for the 75th anniversary of the world’s first atomic bombing, with ceremonies downsized due to the coronavirus and the city’s mayor urging nations to reject selfish nationalism and unite to fight all threats.

Japanese FM in UK for post-Brexit trade talks

Japan's foreign minister on Wednesday (5 August) began a three-day trip to Britain in a bid to wrap up negotiations on a post-Brexit trade agreement.

UK in 5G talks with suppliers from Japan, South Korea

British officials have discussed supplies of 5G networking equipment with companies in South Korea and Japan as part of a bid to develop alternatives to China's Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, a person with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

EU and Japan commit to avoiding ‘unnecessary barriers’ in times of COVID-19

Leaders of the EU and Japan agreed on Tuesday (26 May) to avoid “unnecessary travel and export restrictions” to counter the COVID-19 pandemic, and to work together to defend multilateralism.

Merkel warns on EU’s future as US braces for worst of virus

European leaders battling a deadly coronavirus outbreak are facing the "biggest test" to their union, Germany's leader said Monday (6 April), as the United States braced for what authorities warned would be its hardest week in living memory.

Tokyo Olympics delayed until 2021

The Tokyo summer Olympiad was postponed on Tuesday (24 March) to 2021, the first such delay in the Games’ 124-year modern history, as the coronavirus crisis wrecked one of the last international sporting showpieces still standing this year.

German raids over suspected Mitsubishi diesel fraud

German prosecutors have raided 10 business premises as part of a probe into suspected diesel emissions cheating involving Mitsubishi cars, the latest fallout from the so-called "dieselgate" scandal.

COP25 news and views: What’s happening in Madrid (part 3)

As UN climate negotiations enter their second and decisive week, EURACTIV gives you a glimpse into the goings on of the 25th climate conference in Madrid (COP25) and what is driving the conversation there. In this edition: Badges taken away, German satisfaction, French absence, and fighting in Tokyo.

Europe must stand firm and clean up shipping’s giant CO2 emissions 

More people than ever are aware that the giant ships carrying 80% of global trade are also giant polluters. Green MEP Bas Eickhout argues that regulators face a choice between real and fake CO2 regulations for shipping at UN negotiations next week.

Trade and horsetrade: Top five hot-button G20 issues

Global trade, geopolitical hotspots around the world and even horse-trading over top EU jobs, G20 leaders have a lot of their plate when they meet from Friday (28 June) in Osaka.

Chizhov: Juncker might be interested in meeting Putin in Osaka

Commission President Jean Claude Juncker may be interested in sitting down with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 summit in Osaka on 28-29 June, according to Russian ambassador to the EU Vladimir Chizhov. 

In Fukuoka, EU to focus on trade tensions at G20, seek tax on digital firms

Resolving global trade tensions must be a top priority to preserve an expected modest rebound in global growth, European Union finance ministers will tell G20 counterparts this week amid an escalating US-Chinese trade conflict.

Honda’s electrifying Europe plans for 2025

At the Geneva Motor Show, Japanese car giant Honda pledged on Tuesday (5 March) to sell only electric cars in Europe by 2025. It also unveiled its first full electric battery car for European production.

Japanese village hits 81% recycling rate, aims for 100% by 2020

A Japanese village aims to be the first zero waste municipality in the world by 2020 and has already reached an 81% recycling rate. A member of the Japanese Zero Waste Academy told EURACTIV that the feat is replicable elsewhere.

Japanese giants team up to build batteries, battle China and Tesla

Carmaker Toyota and electronics titan Panasonic will pool resources and build electric vehicle batteries together as of 2020, according to sources familiar with the planned joint venture.

Malmström visits Washington as potential tariffs on cars overshadow trade talks

EU Commissioner for trade Cecilia Malmström travels to Washington on Tuesday (8 January) for a new round of trade talks with US officials, as potential tariffs on cars hold on European industry’s head.

MEPs clear EU-Japan trade deal for early 2019 start

After almost five years of negotiations, the European Parliament ratified the EU-Japan trade deal on Wednesday (12 December), sealing the biggest ever trade agreement negotiated by the European Union.