Japan expanded its commitments to 135 services sectors (86% of a total of 157 sectors). With the JSEPA, Singapore service suppliers will now be able to supply a broad range of services to the Japanese market. Services sectors that Japan has committed include professional services, construction services, computer services, distribution services, telecommunication services, financial services, and transport services. There will be transparency in the regulations governing committed sectors, and certainty in the trading environment. In short, the Chapter defines a level playing field for Singapore suppliers interested in competing in the Japanese market.

In particular, Singapore companies can take advantage of improved commitments by Japan in the following sectors:

Maritime transport: Japan has committed international transport of freight and passengers, which means that Singapore-based shipping companies are free to call at Japanese ports. Japan has also made commitments for maritime freight forwarding and non-discriminatory access to inland transport services (internal waterways transport, rail and road transport). With these enhanced commitments from Japan, Singapore shipping companies are now assured of unrestricted access to the world's second most important maritime nation. In addition, Singapore shipping companies can also provide integrated logistics services, such as trucking, and delivery of the cargo which they have carried. Our companies in the maritime and logistics sectors will be able to benefit from this enhanced commitment.

Testing and analysis services: Japan has also committed its technical testing and analysis services for manufactured goods, a sector that Japan did not commit at the WTO. This sector has high economic potential given the enormous size of Japan's manufacturing sector, and Singapore companies can make use of the enhanced market opportunity to penetrate this market.

Research and Development services: Included R&D services on natural sciences as well as interdisciplinary R&D services. These additional commitments mean that Singapore companies wanting to participate in the R&D market can do so. The Japanese government has agreed not to limit the activities of Singapore R&D companies, or impose regulations that would discriminate against them.

Medical and Dental Services: The Japanese government has opened up this huge market for foreign capital investment.

Education Services: Japan has committed in the JSEPA child day-care services and other education services, which would allow Singapore companies to venture into the Japanese market providing education services in areas like early childhood education, information technology, corporate training, and industry-related training like packaging design centres.