(Brussels, 11 December 2017) FoodDrinkEurope welcomes the finalisation of the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) announced last Friday 8th December. The EU-Japan EPA, which comes with high expectations, both in terms of tariff reductions and removal of non-tariff barriers to trade, should significantly improve the market access conditions for European food and drinks in Japan.

The EU-Japan EPA will strengthen the relations with one of our key trade partners, supporting jobs and growth, and is expected to benefit Japanese consumers who will have greater access to high quality European products, such as dairy products, meat products, confectionery, drinks, and products with European Geographical Indications.

We look forward to seeing the final text of the agreement and the benefits of the EU-Japan EPA materialise in the near future, following a swift ratification process.

~ENDS~

Note to the editors:

Japan is Europe’s fourth largest food and drink export market, worth €4.9 bn in 2016. The trade agreement is of strategic importance as it will strengthen the sector’s competitive position in the dynamic and growing Asia-Pacific region. The impact assessment made in 2016 stresses that the EU agri-food sector as a whole will benefit from the EU-Japan FTA, and more recent estimates by the European Commission predict that EU exports of processed food to Japan could rise by up to 180%.  Further to the positive EU trade diplomacy efforts in Asia, this agreement will complete the picture of successfully negotiated trade agreements in the region such as EU-South Korea and forthcoming ones with Singapore and Vietnam.  

About:

FoodDrinkEurope is the organisation of Europe’s food and drink industry, the largest manufacturing sector and leading employer in the EU and a key contributor to its economy (289 000 companies, 99% SMEs, 4.2 million employees)

Press contact:

Florence Ranson
Director of Communications

Phone: +32 2 5081028                                                    
f.ranson@fooddrinkeurope.eu