TOKYO, Jan. 21 ― Japanese Agriculture Minister Takamori Yoshikawa has discussed with the EU’s Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan and Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Vytenis Andriukaitis over regulatory barriers for Japanese farm exports to the EU.
“They told me that they are working on processes that enable Japanese meat, dairy products and eggs to enter the EU market,” Yoshikawa told reporters after the meeting in Berlin on Jan.19.
The EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) is set to come into effect on Feb. 1.
The trade deal is dubbed “cars for cheese” because of business opportunities for Japanese carmakers and EU farmers, means EU duties on Japanese vehicles and parts will be phased out and EU farmers also will save duties.
And the pact sweeps away almost all EU tariffs on Japanese farm products and processed food, but regulatory barriers to trade must be improved for Japanese farmers.