German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi announced a breakthrough in EU-Japan trade relations…

Date: 24/06/1999

...at last weekend's summit in Bonn. The two leaders said only “technical work” remained to be done on a deal setting common approval standards for electrical goods, telecoms equipment, chemicals and pharmaceuticals. The accord will save businesses the costs of getting new products tested by the other side's authorities before being approved for sale.