European Union: Implemented EU-Japan Protocol amending the Agreement for an Economic Partnership regarding the free flow of data

On 1 July 2024, the Protocol amending the European Union and Japan Agreement for an Economic Partnership to include provisions regarding the free flow of data entered into force. The Protocol aims to provide greater legal certainty, ensuring that data flows between the EU and Japan will not be restricted by unjustified data localisation measures. The agreement also supports the “Data Free Flow with Trust,” which focuses on international cooperation regarding data flows based on shared values. It establishes a foundation for a unified approach to digital trade and opposes unjustified restrictions on data flows.