On 19 October 2017, the Belgian Cabinet approved for ratification the pending income tax treaty with Japan ({News-2016-10-14/T/3-previous coverage}). The treaty, signed 12 October 2016, will enter into force 30 days after the ratification instruments are exchanged and will apply from 1 January of the year following its entry into force. Once in force and effective, the treaty will replace the 1968 tax treaty between the two countries.