The European Union on Monday called on Japan to enact policies to expand its economy so the nation can lead Asia out of its crises, Foreign Ministry officials said.At a meeting of ministers from Japan and the EU, Sir Leon Brittan, vice president of the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, said Asia will not recover until Japan does, the officials said.Brittan said he hopes for a quick implementation of economic measures by Tokyo, adding that tax cuts would help, they said.Brittan, Martin Bangemann, EC commissioner in charge of industrial affairs and information and telecommunications technologies, and Anita Gradin, EC commissioner in charge of immigration, home affairs and justice, represented the EU side.Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura, International Trade and Industry chief Kaoru Yosano, Economic Planning Agency chief Taichi Sakaiya and Shozaburo Nakamura represented Japan.Brittan also submitted a list of deregulation proposals to Japan, saying deregulation is an effective vehicle for economic restructuring, according to the officials. Japan responded with its own list.The two sides agreed on the importance of setting up a mutual recognition agreement to recognize each other's product standards in areas such as telecommunications and medicine. The agreement will help boost bilateral trade, the officials said.However, they were unable to reach agreement on a deadline for concluding negotiations on the agreement. The EU proposed that talks be completed by Dec. 1, while Tokyo was against setting a deadline, according to the officials.
