According to Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade, the UAE and Japan plan to finish discussions for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) by the end of 2025.
According to Dr. Al Zeyoudi, the agreement represents both countries’ strong commitment to strengthening economic ties, expanding trade relations, and opening up new possibilities for investment and commercial partnerships.
The UAE is Japan’s most important trading partner in the Arab world, accounting for almost 37% of overall exports to the area. Meanwhile, Japan is one of the UAE’s top ten trading partners, demonstrating the importance of their bilateral economic relationship.
The CEPA negotiations began in September 2024, with discussions spanning a wide range of topics, including trade in goods, investment, customs processes, intellectual property, and economic cooperation. The first round of negotiations was held in Tokyo in November 2024, with an emphasis on regulatory frameworks and trade facilitation.
This deal is expected to improve collaboration in critical industries including energy, semiconductors, and technology. Both countries have also agreed to cooperate on climate change measures and energy security.
Once finalised, the CEPA will improve UAE-Japan economic connections, opening up new business prospects and consolidating their strategic cooperation.
