ABENOMICS AND THE EU–JAPAN ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT: CONSEQUENCES FOR THE EU AND POLISH ECONOMIES
ABENOMICS AND THE EU–JAPAN ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT: CONSEQUENCES FOR THE EU AND POLISH ECONOMIES

Summary/Abstract: Purpose – This paper focuses on Abenomics by showing the measures undertakenby Japan’s administration and by exploring to what extent new trade policy contributesto stimulating FTAs/EPAs. The goal of this paper is to evaluate the potential EU–JapanEPA effects from the perspective of the EU and Poland’s economies.Research background – In early 2013, Shinzō Abe announced a plan of economicreforms known as Abenomics, within which trade policy would be focused on regionalFTAs/EPAs and strategic partnerships (SPAs) that then became a government priority.The Abe admini­ stration presented a “proactive contribution to peace”, which has hada crucial influence on Japan’s new trade policy and its engagement in economic region-alism. After six years of negotiations, the EU–Japan EPA and the Strategic PartnershipAgreement (SPA) were signed on July 17, 2018. These agreements confirm that economicrelations have entered a new, higher phase of development and open new prospects fordeeper cooperation.Methods – Text analysis of governmental documents, institutional reports, companies’websites, and articles in the specialized press.Originality   / value   / implications   / recommendations – This assessment of the potentialimpact of the EU–Japan EPA reveals that the agreement will contribute to the mutualGDP growth and will promote trade in goods and services by eliminating tariffs andreducing non-tariff barriers between the parties. Furthermore, the EU–Japan EPA isimportant for the Polish economy. Liberalization of imports from Japan, which mainlyinclude modern technologies as well as machinery and equipment for various sectors ofthe economy, will significantly contribute to accelerating the economic development of Poland. In turn, the liberalization of exports will be an opportunity to increasefood exports from Poland.

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