Denmark’s Trade and Investment Minister Pia Olsen Dyhr has reached agreement with her Japanes counterpart to develop a free trade agreement between the European Union and Japan.

“We have agreed that the foundations should be concluded during the Danish EU Presidency and that we will both turn on the turbo-engine to make sure we can reach that goal,” Olsen Dyhr tells Ritzau.

On behalf of the EU, Olsen Dyhr is currently in Japan for talks with the Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry minister Yukio Edano on an agreement to open up the Japanese public sector market to foreign companies.

“So far they have opened up the railway network and they are also willing to look at our other proposals,” Olsen Dyhr says, adding she hopes that the Japanese energy market will also be opened up.

“Of course Japan will not open up everything, but as I heard the minister today, he is willing to go a long way,” Olsen Dyhr says.

She adds that even if agreement on the foundations for further negotiations are concluded during the Danish presidency, it will take up to five years before agreement is reached on a free trade agreement.

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