Bilateral negotiations

Japan-US Standardization Conference

Considering the significance of cooperation between Japan and the United States in promoting standardization and international standardization, arrangements for the holding of the Japan-US Standardization Conference was agreed upon at the ministerial level in April 1997. Since the first such meeting in May 1997, both countries have held meetings to exchange views on standardization and conformity assessment policies and to confirm their commitment to cooperative relationships concerning activities in specific fields.

Japan-EU Standards and Conformity Assessment Working Group

Considering the significance of cooperation between Japan and the European Union in promoting standardization and international standardization, the Japan-EU Standards and Conformity Assessment Working Group has been held since 1995 so as to facilitate the exchange of views on policies for standardization and conformity assessment and the sharing of information in regards to specific fields.

Japan-Korea Standardization Conference

Considering the significance of cooperation between Japan and the Republic of Korea in promoting standardization and international standardization, the Japan-Korea Standardization Conference has been held since 1979 to facilitate the exchange of views on policies for standardization and conformity assessment and the sharing of information in regards to specific fields.

Japan-China Standardization Conference

Considering the significance of cooperation between Japan and China in promoting standardization and international standardization, the Japan-China Standardization Conference has been held since June 1997 to facilitate the exchange of views on standardization policies and the activities of international standardizing organizations.

JISC-CENELEC (European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization) Information Exchange Meetings

Japan has held regular information exchange meetings (once a year) since 1996 with CENELEC, the European regional standardization organization in the electrotechnical field. In October 2005, JISC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with CENELEC to promote the reciprocal exchange of information on standardization activities, thus enhancing comprehensive cooperative relations. The 14th information exchange meeting was held in November 2009 in Milan, Italy. At the overall conference, consumer participation in standardization activities and standardization related to energy efficiency (including smart grids) was discussed. In individual fields, information was exchanged on topics including trends in Information and Communications Technology (ICT), railway systems, assessment methods for human exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF), Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC), and design automation.

JISC-CEN (European Committee for Standardization) information exchange meetings

CEN, which, like CENELEC, is one of the regional standardization organizations in Europe, promotes standardization in the fields corresponding to ISO. JISC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with CEN in June 2008 to bind the cooperative relationship between the two organizations. In October 2009, the 2nd information exchange meeting based on the MOU was held in Geneva to exchange information on initiatives related to standardization education and on individual fields.