On July 6, negotiations on the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Japan and the European Union (EU) came to a basic agreement. At a joint press conference with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, EU President Jean-Claude Juncker said, "I would like to congratulate Prime Minister Abe on the remarkable progress Japan has made on making products from the Fukushima region safe, following the 2011 accident." He continued by saying that he was confident and would work for the EU's further lifting of import measures after the summer holiday. It was a positive response to a request by Prime Minister Abe that restrictions on imports of foods produced in Fukushima and elsewhere be removed. Later, Fukushima Governor Masao Uchibori commented, "Regarding the relaxation of import restrictions in the...more