Leaders from the EU and Japan signed a sweeping free trade accord in Tokyo, Japan, on Tuesday 17 July, touting the accord as a testament of their support for the rules-based, multilateral trading system in a time of heightened global trade tensions and as an economic boon for producers and consumers alike. The accord, known as the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), has been under formal negotiation since 2013, with officials wrapping up the trade talks late last year. Earlier this month, the European Council formally gave the go-ahead for the EU to sign the deal with their Japanese counterparts, a pivotal step before ratification can begin. Speaking in Tokyo on Tuesday, leaders from both sides praised the accord as bolstering a deep-seated alliance between countries who share a set of core values, including a commitment to using trade as a tool to support sustainable development objectives. The EU and Japan also rank among the world’s four largest traders, with the US and China rounding out the list. “Japan and the European Union do both see the world in the same way. We believe that we can make each other stronger, safer, and more prosperous when we work together in...