EU, Japan hail free trade deal: “A message to the world”

The leaders of the European Union and Japan on Thursday said their agreement in principle on free trade is the best antidote to the protectionism seen to be promoted by the United States.

The leaders said in a statement that the EU and Japan “demonstrate to the world – and to our citizens” that free trade remains vital to boost living standards.

Countering calls for protectionism, EU Council President Donald Tusk said that the political agreement proves that “the world doesn’t need to go back 100 years back in time,” when open trade was not as prevalent.

Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said “it sends a strong message to the world” and both leaders will be able to make that point when they are at Group of 20 summit of world leaders in Hamburg, Germany, on Friday. Read more….

EU, Japan hail free trade deal: “A message to the world”