The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Japan (CCCJ) and the Keidanren's Committee on Canada express our great appreciation for the release of the Report of the Joint Study on the Possibility of a Canada-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). The report is a positive development and finds sufficient common ground to launch negotiations for an EPA between Canada and Japan.
Both the CCCJ and the Keidanren's Committee on Canada strongly urge the Canadian and Japanese governments to launch negotiations towards a Canada-Japan EPA as soon as possible and at the highest levels of government. We urge the prime ministers of Canada and Japan to seize the earliest opportunity for a face to face meeting and joint announcement of this historic development in our nations' bilateral relationship.
A Canada-Japan EPA will serve to further invigorate trade and market access to the mutual benefit of both nations. Given the fact that our two countries share fundamental common values - such as democracy, market economy and the rule of law - and that both countries are highly advanced industrially and members of the G8, we strongly urge our respective governments to aim to realize a comprehensive and high-level EPA.
Promoting the development of commerce between Canada and Japan since 1975, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Japan (CCCJ) is a private sector, not-for-profit business organization serving its members through communications, networking and advocacy. Representing some 33 business sectors, the CCCJ is a member-driven, member-focused organization and is the longest serving Canadian Chamber in Asia with over 275 members.
Our members represent a broad cross-section of businesspersons and entrepreneurs from Canada, Japan and other countries. They include Canadian companies operating in Japan, Japanese companies and individuals with ties to Canada, small business owners and Canadians working in Japan.
The Chamber carries out its mandate in a variety of ways, including:
Contact us to find out more about how the Chamber can help you. http://www.cccj.or.jp/
Keidanren (Japan Business Federation) is a comprehensive economic organization born in May 2002 by amalgamation of Keidanren (Japan Federation of Economic Organizations) and Nikkeiren (Japan Federation of Employers' Associations). Its membership of 1,603 is comprised of 1,281 companies, 127 industrial associations, and 47 regional economic organizations (as of June 15, 2011).
Its mission is to accelerate growth of Japan's and world economy and to strengthen the corporations to create value to transform Japanese economy into one that is sustainable and driven by the private sector, by encouraging the idea of individuals and local communities.
Keidanren, for this purpose, shall establish timely consensus and work towards resolution of a variety of issues concerning Japanese business community. Meanwhile, it will communicate with its stakeholders including political leaders, administrators, labor unions, and citizens at large. It will urge its members to adhere to Charter of Corporate Behavior and Global Environment Charter, in order to recover public confidence in businesses. It will also attempt to resolve international problems and to deepen economic relations with other countries through policy dialogue with governments, business groups and concerned international organizations.