During a summit in Tokyo, Japan and the European Union discussed plans to increase collaboration in assisting Afghanistan and combating piracy off Somalia. They also announced their intention to begin negotiations to enhance their trade relations. EU president Herman Van Rompuy emphasized the importance of closer cooperation between Asia's largest economy and the 27-nation bloc to become influential global economic and political players. Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama confirmed that they will work together on peace building efforts in Afghanistan and Somalia, and establish a team of experts to explore economic ties for the next six to twelve months. Tokyo is interested in forming a free-trade agreement similar to the one the EU made with South Korea last year, but Brussels has raised concerns about trade barriers in Japan. Van Rompuy has also called for closer cooperation on various issues such as climate change, poverty, terrorism, economic stability, nuclear non-proliferation, and human rights. He emphasized the importance of working together to address global challenges, stating that the EU and Japan, with their combined strengths, can make a significant impact in a world that is becoming increasingly interconnected. He also highlighted the importance of international network security and the threat of attacks on the free movement of goods, people, and information. The networks are at risk of cyber-attacks, which are a real threat that can cause harm on a daily basis. It is important for Japan and Europe, both deeply integrated into global networks, to work together to improve their resilience against these attacks. Van Rompuy also mentioned the potential for a free-trade agreement to enhance economic ties between the two blocs, but pointed out that there are still barriers to trade in place that need to be addressed. He suggested that taking more time to establish common objectives between both parties could be beneficial. The EU has requested Japan to address non-tariff barriers, such as product safety and government procurement rules, before moving forward. Toshiro Tanaka, a professor at Keio University, noted that although the EU claims Japan's market is restricted by non-tariff barriers, they are hesitant to agree to a free-trade deal. In contrast, Japan is eager to pursue a deal with the EU, influenced by its business community. Tanaka mentioned that the free-trade agreement between the EU and South Korea last year has piqued Japan's interest in a similar arrangement. At the moment, the European Union enforces tariffs of 10 percent on vehicle imports and 14 percent on electronics. However, South Korean companies like Samsung, LG, and Hyundai Motor will eventually be exempt from these tariffs. This exemption puts Japanese manufacturers at a significant disadvantage when selling their products in the European market, according to Tanaka. The EU delegation will soon visit China for a similar summit in Shanghai, coinciding with the start of the World Expo on Saturday.