Japan warned the European Union on Thursday that its proposed directives to regulate waste from electrical and electronic equipment and cars could result in trade restrictions if they are too strict.
Japan made the call in a meeting with the EU on regulatory reform, Japanese officials said.
The Japanese side informed the EU that it fears the draft proposals for EU directives on Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment and the End of Life Vehicles could run against the agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade under the World Trade Organization if they are too strict.
The WEEE directive is aimed at promoting the reusing or recycling of electrical and electronic equipment. The ELV aims at having all cars in the EU taken back and recycled by manufacturers when they reach the end of their useful life from 2006.