Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will visit Brussels on Tuesday next and hold talks with European Council President Donald Tusk and Commission President Jean-Claude Junker. High on the agenda, no doubt, will be the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that has been in negotiation and is thought to be close to conclusion.
As is usual with FTAs, agriculture is the sticking point. This time, however, the EU is not the one looking to protect its farmers from imports – it is the Japanese looking to protect theirs. A deal was thought to be close before Christmas. However, following the election of Donald Trump as US President and his decision to dump the Trans Pacific Partnership deal with Japan and other Pacific rim countries, Japan has been in regular engagement with the US.
There is a fear that bilateral discussions between the US and Japan could scupper EU access to the Japanese market for agricultural products, as the US would be demanding similar access in any trade discussion.
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In Europe’s favour is the fact that negotiations with Japan are at such an advanced stage. Similarly, despite last-minute delays, the EU deal with Canada demonstrated that it could conclude trade agreements.
Post Brexit, there is an urgency in Brussels to advance trade deals, with a number of countries and Japan is highest on this list. Next week also, EU trade negotiators will be in Buenos Aries for the next round of talks with Mercosur South American nations.
Japan is currently a significant export market for Irish dairy and pigmeat products, with some beef offal exported as well. Elimination of the tariff barrier would make it easier to grow these markets.
Find out more from the latest agriculture developments in Bruseels with Phelim O’Neill in the video below:
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Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will visit Brussels on Tuesday next and hold talks with European Council President Donald Tusk and Commission President Jean-Claude Junker. High on the agenda, no doubt, will be the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that has been in negotiation and is thought to be close to conclusion.
As is usual with FTAs, agriculture is the sticking point. This time, however, the EU is not the one looking to protect its farmers from imports – it is the Japanese looking to protect theirs. A deal was thought to be close before Christmas. However, following the election of Donald Trump as US President and his decision to dump the Trans Pacific Partnership deal with Japan and other Pacific rim countries, Japan has been in regular engagement with the US.
There is a fear that bilateral discussions between the US and Japan could scupper EU access to the Japanese market for agricultural products, as the US would be demanding similar access in any trade discussion.
In Europe’s favour is the fact that negotiations with Japan are at such an advanced stage. Similarly, despite last-minute delays, the EU deal with Canada demonstrated that it could conclude trade agreements.
Post Brexit, there is an urgency in Brussels to advance trade deals, with a number of countries and Japan is highest on this list. Next week also, EU trade negotiators will be in Buenos Aries for the next round of talks with Mercosur South American nations.
Japan is currently a significant export market for Irish dairy and pigmeat products, with some beef offal exported as well. Elimination of the tariff barrier would make it easier to grow these markets.
Find out more from the latest agriculture developments in Bruseels with Phelim O’Neill in the video below:
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