Two years after the signature of the EU-Japan agreement, both sides agreed on Monday 1 February to extend the agreement to include new geographical indications and new regulatory modalities for certain products.
28 new Protected Designations of Origin (PDOs) have been added on both sides of the agreement and include products such as Dijon blackcurrant or Kalamata olive oil. The trade agreement with Japan, in force since 2019, has primarily benefited agri-food products, whose exports from the EU to Japan increased by 16% in 2019. EU Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski stated, “This agreement is a very good example of trade that benefits both sides and is the result of mutual trust and cooperation, particularly in the agri-food sector”. Japan is the EU’s second largest preferential partner for agri-food products.
Automotive. Both parties have agreed to extend the list of safety rules or certificates for vehicles that do not require additional approval checks in the importing party.
Wine. In the same spirit, Japan has brought its wine standards closer to those of the EU.
For European Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis, the EU/Japan agreement is “one of the most important agreements. Together, the EU and Japan account for a quarter of global GDP, and our bilateral trade is worth €170 billion a year”. (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)