Joint Statement: EU Must Not Follow Japan’s Lead on Vehicle Safety in Trade Talks with the U.S.

Brussels, 24 July 2025

We are deeply concerned by the trade deal reached this week by the governments of Japan and the United States which reportedly removes domestic Japanese safety testing requirements for American-made vehicles exported to Japan.

This move sets a dangerous precedent – one that could undermine road safety in countries that have led the world in automotive safety regulation. Allowing vehicles to bypass proven national safety standards for the sake of trade expediency risks turning back the clock on decades of progress in reducing road deaths and serious injuries.

Reports indicate that Japan will now allow U.S. vehicles to enter its market without being subject to Japan’s specific crash testing or safety compliance requirements.

We urge the European Union not to follow suit.

The EU has consistently adopted some of the world’s most effective vehicle safety regulations, culminating in the General Safety Regulation that is currently in force. These rules mandate technologies such as automated emergency braking, intelligent speed assistance, and pedestrian protection – none of which are currently required for vehicles sold in the U.S.

Trade talks must not become a backdoor to regulatory weakening. Vehicle safety standards are not trade barriers; they are public protections backed by science and evidence. Weakening or bypassing them would lead to real and measurable harm – particularly to vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists.

We welcome previous assurances from the European Commission that EU safety standards are not on the table in ongoing trade discussions with the United States. We now urge EU leaders to maintain this position, and to state clearly that no deal on vehicles will be accepted unless all products placed on the EU market meet existing European regulatory requirements in full.

Lives depend on it.

Antonio Avenoso, Executive Director, European Transport Safety Council
Diogo Pinto, Acting Director General, FIA Region I
Stephen Russell, ANEC – The European Consumer Voice in Standardisation
William Todts, Executive Director, Transport & Environment (T&E)
Karen Vancluysen, Secretary General, POLIS – Cities and Regions for Transport Innovation
Michiel van Ratingen, Secretary General, Euro NCAP – European New Car Assessment Programme
Geert van Waeg, President, International Federation of Pedestrians
Jill Warren, CEO, European Cyclists’ Federation
Richard Woods, CEO, Global NCAP