Abstract
The post-WWII history of Japan and Europe’s economic relations could be characterized by the shift from trade frictions to strategic partners of global free trade and a wide range of cooperation in development aid, climate change, industrial cooperation, and economic security.
Economic relations started with the UK and the six member states of the European Economic Community (EEC) applying Article 35 of the GATT against Japan. The latter opted out of GATT rules until the early 1960s when the UK first abandoned the practice.
Until the end of the Cold War, trade frictions were generated by Japan’s aggressive exports, Europe’s lack of export competitiveness, and the remaining trade barriers of both parties. Mutual lowering of trade barriers and investments have made the friction fade away and have been replaced by ‘joint’ efforts by Japan and the EU to tackle global issues such as aiding Central and Eastern European countries and protecting the environment.
The economic and military rise of China, populism, Brexit, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have cast a dark shadow on EU member states and affected relations between Japan, the UK, and the EU. Donald Trump’s return to power and his tariff policy threaten multilateral and rule-based global free trade and the liberal international order.
Japan and the EU seek joint efforts through economic security focusing on China, support for Ukraine, and decarbonization.
Date & time
Tuesday, January 7th, 2025, 3:00-4:30 p.m.
Venue
TAISEI Conference Room, 14F, International Academic Research Building Hongo Campus, The University of Tokyo (ACCESS MAP)
Registration
Needed. Please register from the link below.
This seminar is limited to faculty, staff and students of the University of Tokyo.
Speaker
Hitoshi Suzuki
Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Geoeconomics, International House of Japan
Moderator
Keisuke Iida
Professor, Graduate Schools for Laws & Politics, The University of Tokyo