In the wake of the global crisis, a process of negotiation of region-wide free trade agreements (FTAs) has taken place and is currently accelerating with a number of projects such as TPP, EU-Japan FTA, EU-US FTA, among many others. This process is partly in continuity with previous bilateral FTAs and takes place in a broader framework of free trade defined by the World Trade Organization (WTO). It is a rupture because not only of the scale and comprehensive nature but also of its definition of a new international division of labour.

The purpose of this symposium is to analyse the prospects of this trend for Japanese and European economies from the viewpoints of businesses, workers and governments. Businesses may enjoy great benefits, which should not lead us to ignore the worries and fears of some workers, for this change in economic environment may give an asymmetrical impact on incomes distributions. These new conditions of international trade and investment will also have implications for domestic policies both macro and micro levels as well as international policy coordination.

Academics, business people and policy makers from Japan, Germany and France meet in Tokyo to discuss these topics of today.

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