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2.4. In October 2020, Japan announced its plans to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Moreover, in April 2021, it announced the goal of reducing emissions by 2030 to 46% from its 2013 levels. To this end, a long-term strategy under the Paris Agreement was elaborated in 2019 and revised in 2021 to promote green innovations and finance, and an Environment Innovation Strategy in 2020, with action plans for each technology area. Also in 2020, a new Green Growth Strategy was published.

2.7. Against the background of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 White Paper advocates for a coordinated global response to the consequences of the pandemic, the building of more resilient supply chains, the acceleration of digitalization and evolution of communication in economy and society, and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. The 2021 White Paper presents four international trends that trade policies in the COVID-19 era should be based on, namely:(...) (iii) increased interest in common values such as the environment and human rights in international economic activities; and (iv) the digitalization of business. (...)

Table 2.3 Key features of Japan's RTAs
(...)
Title (Entry into force): UK-Japan EPA (01/01/2021)
Goods liberalization: End transition period 2038; 343 tariff lines will remain dutiable (3.7% of total)
Selected coverage[a]: S, GP, CP, E, L, e-com
Share in Japan's merchandise trade (2021): 0.9% total imports;1.4% total exports
(...)
[a] Services (S); government procurement (GP); competition policy (CP); environment (E); labour (L); e-commerce (e-com).

Table 2.3 Key features of Japan's RTAs
(...)
Title (Entry into force): UK-Japan EPA (01/02/2019)
Goods liberalization: End transition period 2038; 532 tariff lines will remain dutiable (6% of total)
Selected coverage[a]: S, GP, CP, E, L, e-com
Share in Japan's merchandise trade (2021): 11.1% total imports; 9.2% total exports
(...)
[a] Services (S); government procurement (GP); competition policy (CP); environment (E); labour (L); e-commerce (e-com).

Table 2.3 Key features of Japan's RTAs
(...)
Title (Entry into force): CPTPP [Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership] (30/12/2018)
Goods liberalization: End transition period 2038; 459 tariff lines will remain dutiable (5% of total)
Selected coverage[a]: S, GP, CP, E, L, e-com
Share in Japan's merchandise trade (2021): 18.0% total imports; 12.5% total exports
(...)
[a] Services (S); government procurement (GP); competition policy (CP); environment (E); labour (L); e-commerce (e-com).

Table 2.3 Key features of Japan's RTAs
(...)
Title (Entry into force): Brunei Darussalam-Japan EPA (31/07/2008)
Goods liberalization: End transition period 2023; 1,125 tariff lines will remain dutiable (12.6% of total)
Selected coverage[a]: S, GP, E
Share in Japan's merchandise trade (2021): 0.3% total imports; 0.03% total exports
(...)
[a] Services (S); government procurement (GP); competition policy (CP); environment (E); labour (L); e-commerce (e-com).

Table 2.3 Key features of Japan's RTAs
(...)
Title (Entry into force): Chile-Japan EPA (03/09/2007)
Goods liberalization: End transition period 2022; 981 tariff lines will remain dutiable (11% of total)
Selected coverage[a]: S, GP, CP[b]
Share in Japan's merchandise trade (2021): 11.1% total imports; 9.2% total exports
(...)
[a] Services (S); government procurement (GP); competition policy (CP); environment (E); labour (L); e-commerce (e-com).
[b] Under the Chile-Japan EPA, a joint statement issued upon signature of the Agreement includes attachments on environment and labour.

2.23. (...) APEC's Aotearoa Plan of Action adopted in 2021 sets out collective and country-specific objectives for an open, dynamic, resilient, and peaceful Asia-Pacific community by 2040, around three main drivers, namely: (...) and (iii) strong, balanced, secure, sustainable, and inclusive growth. (...)

2.35. (...) In 2021, the Council for Promotion of Foreign Direct Investment adopted the Strategy for Promoting Foreign Direct Investment in Japan. (...) The Strategy has three basic pillars: (i) creation of a new digital green market and building an innovation ecosystem; (ii) acceleration of the development of business environments in response to global environment changes; (...)

3.44. (...) Japan has also notified a new import licensing requirement for certain mercury and mercury-added products; this is to implement the Minamata Convention on Mercury (adopted in October 2013), which aims to protect human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds. (...)