Text tabled : B7-0287/2011

  Alexander Mirsky (S&D), in writing. – Since the EU and Japan are close economic partners, they represent more than 20% of world trade but bilateral trade volumes are not as large as they could be. EU exports to Japan, as a ratio of Japan’s GDP, are less than 2%, considerably below the ratio in the EU’s other main markets (the US, China, Korea and India). There is therefore a considerable unrealised economic potential that could be explored by reinforcing trade ties between the two blocs. Negotiations should implement bilateral movement. It is unacceptable to have unequal commodity turnover between the EU and Japan. I voted ‘in favour’.