Regional and Bilateral Initiatives
Other types of arrangements
Launching an Innovative Canada-Japan Economic Framework
Economic ties have formed a cornerstone of the Canada-Japan relationship. Today,
trade in goods and services spans the full spectrum of economic
activity, bilateral investment has reached an all-time high and
cooperation in science and technology is steadily increasing. In
order to propel economic relations toward their full potential,
the Governments of Canada and Japan will launch discussions for
the development of a flexible, innovative Canada-Japan Economic
Framework, as stipulated in the Joint
Statement issued by Prime Ministers Martin and Koizumi on January
19th, 2005.
This framework will be structured to focus on forward-looking strategic
priorities, including policy dialogue, facilitation and promotion
of trade and investment, regulatory cooperation, as well as the
promotion of cooperation in a wide range of other fields. Under
this framework, building on the significant cooperation that already
exists between the two countries, Canada and Japan will:
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Address new and emerging economic challenges and opportunities,
as well as respond in an effective and timely manner to the
concerns of the Canadian and Japanese private sectors;
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Promote economic cooperation through policy as well as business
development initiatives, with a focus on enhancing both countries’
capacities in innovation and in the knowledge-based economy;
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Launch a joint study on the benefits and costs of further promotion
of trade and investment and other cooperative issues.
The Canadian and Japanese Governments will develop this innovative
economic framework within a period of six months. They will report
to Prime Ministers on the result of the discussion for the development
of the framework at the end of this timeframe.
An appropriate architecture for the oversight of the framework
will be developed by the Co-Chairs of the Joint Economic Committee
(JEC). In enhancing the role of the JEC, the framework will allow
for, inter alia, appropriate and effective ways to take
into account the interests raised by Canadian and Japanese private
sectors, a focus on a selected number of key strategic issues of
particular relevance every year, and the development of a more detailed
process to address specific trade and investment issues.
Priority Areas of Cooperation
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Social Security Agreement:
Both governments endeavour to expedite negotiations on a bilateral
social security agreement, aiming at reaching a substantial
agreement at the earliest possible time, fully recognizing its
significance in increasing and facilitating two-way investment
between the two countries.
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Cooperation on Anticompetitive Activities:
Welcoming that Canada and Japan have reached agreement
in principle on major elements of the draft cooperation agreement
on the anticompetitive activities, the two sides will cooperate
closely in, inter alia, combating cross-border cartels by active
implementation of the agreement once it comes into effect.
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Canada-Japan Food Safety Cooperation:
Given the increase in globalized food trade, new inspection
technologies and new risks, there are many challenges that both
countries share in the area of food safety. The two governments
will co-operate and share experiences to respond to these challenges.
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Customs Cooperation: Reaffirming
the importance of customs cooperation, especially its usefulness
in combating smuggling and enhancing the security and facilitation
of the international trade supply chain, and recognizing the
value of exchanges of information and expertise in customs operations,
the two governments will start consultations with a view to
concluding a bilateral customs cooperation arrangement as soon
as possible.
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Trade Facilitation: Reaffirming
the importance of the multilateral negotiations on trade facilitation
following the July 2004 negotiated outcome at the WTO and in
recognition of the close link to trade facilitation of the work
on expediting and simplifying trade procedures to expand world
trade and enhance administrative efficiency, the two governments
will continue to work together through their contact in relevant
venues at the WTO and in other relevant fora to progress the
work of the WTO Negotiating Group on Trade Facilitation towards
a successful conclusion.
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Transportation: The two governments
will continue the existing dialogue on air transportation between
their aeronautical authorities.
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Investment: The two governments will
collaborate on events aimed at promoting the mutual benefits
and conditions of two-way investment so that companies in both
countries can capitalize on the benefits of engagement in global
production and supply chains. Leaders from Canadian and Japanese
business communities will be invited to participate in these
high-profile programs. Japan External Trade Organization's (JETRO)
initiatives and Investment Partnerships Branch of International
Trade Canada's programs for the promotion of mutual investment
will be discussed. The Governments of Canada and Japan will
also discuss points of interest and commonality on investment
policy in the bilateral, regional and multilateral context.
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Science and Technology: The two governments
seek to broaden the scope and role of the current cooperation
under the Canada-Japan Agreement on Cooperation in Science and
Technology with a view to (i) facilitating and increasing public
and private sector exchanges; (ii) fostering collaboration in
leading areas of scientific and technological innovation such
as life sciences, information communication technologies, earth
sciences, environment, space, renewable energy and advanced
materials; and (iii) developing programs and activities to support
women in science, engineering and technology. This expanded
science and technology cooperation between Canada and Japan
will seek to build closer ties between advanced technology related
institutions and the respective private sectors toward the commercialization
of new technologies.
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Information and Communication Technology (ICT):
The two governments will enhance their efforts to promote exchange
of information on their respective ICT strategies, in order
to share knowledge on the development of new markets, including
ubiquitous network society. The existing Canada-Japan Telecommunications
Policy Consultations will continue to provide a forum to exchange
perspectives on telecommunications policy issues and emerging
technologies, with a view to exchanging information on best
practices and enhancing collaboration.
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E-commerce: Considering the already
existing informal cooperation between Canada and Japan in this
sector, the two governments will develop a strategy to better
integrate and enhance those exchanges at the private sector
level, with a view to promoting more efficient communication
and implementing agreed upon e-commerce solutions.
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E-Government: Canada and Japan have
exchanged information regarding their respective approaches
and progress on e-Government and are committed to continuing
this valuable dialogue. To that end, Canada and Japan will continue
to collaborate in a variety of fora for the promotion of their
e-Government initiatives with a view to providing the public
with better access to government information over the Internet
for the facilitation of their business and other activities.
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Energy and Natural Resources: The
two governments will continue the exchange of policy expertise
for the development and use of natural resources and energy
in a sustainable manner through existing multilateral frameworks.
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Climate Change: With a view to building
on the existing successful bilateral cooperation for the negotiation
and implementation of the Kyoto Protocol, Canada and Japan will
conduct ad hoc consultations on climate change policy involving
the participation of officials from key departments, ministries
and agencies from both countries. The goal is to promote more
intensive cooperation through informal meetings on the key policy
areas under consideration for the post-2012 period and the implementation
of the Kyoto Protocol.
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Tax Convention: Canada and Japan
will informally discuss their existing bilateral tax convention,
in order to exchange concerns and examine issues raised by both
countries.
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Tourism Promotion: The two governments
will cooperate on increasing tourism in both directions between
Canada and Japan. In this regard, the Government of Canada fully
recognizes the importance to the Government of Japan of the
“Visit Japan Campaign.” To this end also, the two
governments express their continued commitment to the Canada-Japan
Tourism Conference.
Joint Study on Bilateral Trade, Investment and Cooperative
Issues
The two governments will launch a study on the benefits and costs
of further promotion of trade and investment as well as other cooperative
issues between the two countries.
For this purpose, the Joint Study will identify and describe the
current status of the bilateral economic relationship, including
the identification of areas for further development. It will subsequently
consider pursuing various cooperative bilateral trade and economic
initiatives to reenergize the relationship.
A report on the Joint Study will be submitted to the Prime Ministers
within one year of agreement on the Economic Framework. Further
details of modalities will be determined by the two governments
as expeditiously as possible. In setting up the Joint Study, both
governments will give appropriate consideration to the interests
of the private sector.
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