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Summary
The relationship between Japan and Europe has changed dramatically over the last 50 years. This essay starts by documenting the major developments in their relationship over this period to put the current situation into perspective.
The present relationship is examined, and it is seen that Japan and Europe are at what could be described as the single biggest turning point in their relations in post war history. ... past the relationship has been solely an economic one characterised by trade frictions and discord. The concept of the US-Europe-Japan trilateral relationship being linked by three bars, with the Europe-Japan link being much weaker than the other two is seen to be a useful and realistic one. ... The general trend is towards an improving relationship in the future, but on a different level to that established previously. Both Japan and Europe will play an increasing role in international politics and global security, and it is in this area that their new relationship will flourish.
This trend should be encouraged, as Japan and Europe have so many things in common that both sides cannot fail to benefit from such an improved relationship. In the final part of this essay, ways to achieve this are discussed, and a view on the relationship as it should be is proposed. ...
The last 50 years
In the early 1950s both Western Europe and Japan were preoccupied in building up their respective industries. ... In 1952 Japan applied to join the GATT. ... Even then, 14 countries including Britain, France and the Benelux nations refused to enter into full GATT relations with Japan by invoking Article 35 in the agreement. ... In November i962, Japan concluded a commercial treaty with Britain which put their trade relations on an MFN basis. ...
Following the normalisation of trade relations in the early I960s, Western Europe and Japan experienced more than a decade of remarkable economic development. ... Dialogue between Japan and the European Commission on a trade agreement started in late 1961, but was to achieve no result for the next decade owing to a fundamental difference of opinion between Japan and the Commission over the inclusion of safeguard arrangements. ... From about this time, the frequency of industry-to-industry talks held with respect to Japanese products started increasing between Japan and Europe, as the export of these products began to cause problems for European domestic industries. As these problems emerged, institutional arrangements between Japan and the Community were strengthened by the agreement to hold consultative. ... self restricting measures were introduced by Japanese exporters with respect to an increasing number of specific products, and certain measures to facilitate Community exports to Japan were introduced. ... European dissatisfaction was dramatically shown during a visit to Western Europe in October 1976 by a Keidanren mission headed by Mr Doko. ... the EC-Japan trade. problem became publicly recognised in Japan, and also started receiving a lot of attention in Europe. ... From November 1976 onwards, the European Council has included the question of trade relations with Japan on its agenda at most meetings.
Once again trade frictions broke out in 1980 due to the recession in Europe and the second oil shock of 1979. ... This co-ordinated response to external competition was due to the ever increasing role of the EC in Western Europe, and was in marked contrast to the failure of the first round of EC-Japan talks in the 1960s.
The current relationship
The closer nations get to each other, the wider the areas of contact will become, and hence the greater the possibility of clashes and friction. This has been shown in the last 50 years between Europe and Japan. Relations between these two regions now encompass a wide range of economic issues.
Approximate Word count = 3064
Approximate Pages = 12.3
(250 words per page double spaced)
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