JBCE Position Paper on the Industrial Accelerator Act
On 8 May 2026, JBCE published its position paper on the European Commission's proposal for an Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA).
JBCE welcomes the inclusion of ‘trusted partners’ in the proposal, partially reflecting our ‘Made with Common Values’ approach, promoting resilient and sustainable value chains among partners committed to sustainability, resilience, the rule of law and human rights.
At the same time, we believe certain elements of the current proposal could hinder the IAA’s effective implementation and broader objectives. In this context, JBCE calls on co-legislators to retain:
- The inclusion of ‘trusted partners’ in the IAA proposal.
- Union origin equivalence for content originating in countries sharing a free trade area or a customs union with the EU, as well parties to the Agreement on Government Procurement for public procurement.
- Exempting Japan as a free trade agreement partner, and services, from additional conditions on Foreign Direct Investment.
JBCE also calls for special consideration for like-minded partners such as Japan that promote common values and free trade, in order to preserve strong strategic relationships.
We also recommend co-legislators to:
- Reflect content equivalencies for ‘trusted partners’ across all sectors and products in scope.
- Clarify ambiguous definitions and provisions, and ensure a predictable reciprocity assessment process to maintain a predictable business environment.
- Streamline Union origin requirements across existing and upcoming legislation to prevent regulatory overlaps, ambiguity, and unnecessary administrative burdens, including at national level.
JBCE remains committed to sharing the expertise of its member companies during the negotiations to achieve a text that is beneficial to the EU’s businesses, consumers, and trusted partners alike, while strengthening EU-Japan relations.
For more information, please contact info@jbce.org