The EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) was signed in Tokyo on 17 July 2018. The partnership abolishes customs duties on 97% of goods imported from the EU; removes a number barriers and increases export opportunities in many sectors.

This agreement entered into force on February 1st 2019 and a large part of the agreement will be applied on a provisional basis. Only once ratified by all EU Member States will the agreement formally enter into force. However, we have been informed through Clecat (European Association for Forwarding, Transport, Logistics and Customs Services) that there are still a number of uncertainties regarding the proof of origin; application of preferential tariff treatment and the requirement of specific certificates for some goods. In order to provide companies with the necessary legal certainty, these matters must first be clarified further. The full press release of the European Commission can be found here.