As early as 1999, Japan created a Committee for Closer Economic Relations between Japan and Mexico within the Japan External Trade Organization. This body released a report in 2000 concluding that a free trade agreement would be an effective means for strengthening economic ties between the two countries.

On 5 June 2001 the President of Mexico and the Prime Minister of Japan established a bilateral commission composed of academics, and members of the public and private sectors. The Japan -Mexico Joint Study Group on the Strengthening of Bilateral Economic Relations to explore and study measures to cement trade and investment relations between Japan and Mexico and to analyze the desirability of a free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries. Meetings were held on seven occasions.

On 25 July 2002, the Joint Study Group released its final report, which contains a comprehensive set of conclusions and recommendations concerning the liberalization of trade in goods and services, government procurement, and investment. The governments of Japan and Mexico subsequently decided to launch negotiations to conclude a bilateral agreement, including the elements of a free trade agreement, to strengthen their bilateral economic relations and revitalize their economies.

The Mexico-Japan Agreement for the Strengthening of the Economic Partnership was signed on 17 September 2004.

Documents relating to the negotiations
17 September 2004	Mexico City, Mexico. Joint Statement on the occasion of the Signing of the Agreement between Japan and the United Mexican States for the Strengthening of the Economic Partnership
17 September 2004	Implementing Agreement pursuant to Article 132 of the Agreement between Japan and the United Mexican States for the Strengthening of the Economic Partnership
05 March 2004	Tokyo, Japan. Fourteenth round of negotiations
30 January 2004	Tokyo, Japan. Thirteenth round of negotiations
05 December 2003	Mexico City, Mexico. Twelfth round of negotiations
	Mexico: Summary of first ten rounds of negotiations
15 May 2003	Mexico City, Mexico.Third round of negotiations
19 February 2003	Tokyo, Japan.Second round of negotiations
	Joint Press Statement. The Agreement between Japan and the United Mexican States for the Strengthening of the Economic Partnership
27 October 2002	Los Cabos, Mexico. Joint Announcement of the Prime Minister of Japan and the President of the United Mexican States on the initiation of negotiations for concluding a bilateral agreement to strengthen their economic partnership
July 2002	Japan-Mexico Joint Study Group on the Strengthening of Bilateral Economic Relations Final Report
April 2000	Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Committee for Closer Economic Relations between Japan and MexicoReport on Closer Economic Relations between Japan and Mexico
Source: Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO); Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan; Secretaría de Economía de México

The Agreement between Japan and the United Mexican States for the Strengthening of the Economic Partnership entered into force on 01 April 2005.

Documents relating to the entry into force
01 April 2005	Celebration of entry into force of EPA
03 March 2005	Exchange of Diplomatic Notes for the Entry into Force of the Japan-Mexico Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)
18 November 2004	Mexican Senate approves Agreement
Source: Canal del Congreso de México; Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

Article 165 of the Mexico-Japan EPA creates a Joint Committee composed of representatives of the Governments of the Parties to the agreement to review the implementation and operation of the Agreement. The first committee meeting was held in Tokyo, Japan, on the date of entry into force of the Agreement. At this meeting, the Committee established the rules and procedures of the Joint Committee, adopted the Uniform Regulations and established a number of sub-committees.

In June 2006 the uniform regulations were updated. In September 2006 Mexico and Japan signed a Protocol to the EPA Agreement Related to Improvement of Market Access Conditions Based on Paragraphs 3 and 5 of Article 5.

On 21 February 2011 Japan and Mexico held the sixth meeting of their Joint Committee. The Vice-Ministers confirmed the conclusion of re-consultations to improve market access for agricultural products and accelerating tariff reductions for some industrial products. They also agreed to introduce new disciplines in the EPA. The Protocol Amending the Economic Partnership Agreement between Mexico and Japan was signed in Mexico City on 22 September 2011.

Documents relating to the Implementation of the Agreement
23 September 2011	Signing of the Protocol Amending the Japan-Mexico Economic Partnership Agreement
	Text  of the Protocol Amending the Japan-Mexico Economic Partnership Agreement
22 February 2011	Broadening of the Mexico-Japan Economic Partnership (EPA)
21 September 2006	Protocol between Japan and the United Mexican States Related to Improvement of Market Access Conditions Based on Paragraphs 3 and 5 of Article 5 of the Agreement between Japan and the United Mexican States for the Strengthening of the Economic Partnership
June 2006	Updated Uniform Regulations
01 April 2005	Tokyo, Japan.First meeting of the Joint Committee
October 2005	Annex 6. State Reservations for Existing Measures Notified by the Government of the United Mexican States to the Government of Japan pursuant to paragraph 2 of Article 66 of Chapter 7 (Investment) and paragraph 2 of Article 101 of Chapter 8 (Cross-Border Trade in Services) of the Agreement Between the United Mexican States and Japan for the Strengthening of the Economic Partnership (Agreement)
01 April 2005	Uniform Regulations
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

Decisions of the Joint Committee
02 March 2012	Decision Nº 11
23 February 2012	Decision Nº 10
11 abril 2007	Decision Nº 8
03 May 2006	Decision Nº 7
03 May 2006	Decision Nº 6
03 May 2006	Decision Nº 5
01 April 2005	Decision Nº 4
01 April 2005	Decision Nº 3
01 April 2005	Decision Nº 2
01 April 2005	Decision Nº 1
Source: Secretaría de Economía de México

• Canal del Congreso de México
• Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
• Secretaría de Economía de México