Japan and the new EPA economic agreement with the European Union

The EPA/EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement, the new economic agreement between the EU and Japan, opens up great export opportunities. To lay some groundwork, Sviluppumbria, Umbrian EEN partner, in collaboration with EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation and the Enterprise Europe Network, invites companies to participate in the webinar to be held on 15 June 2020 from 10.30 - 13.00.

The meeting will present the characteristics of the Japanese food market, the procedures for export, the opportunities provided by the agreement and, more generally, the elements of culture and business practice in Japan that make it possible to overcome barriers and create a climate of trust between people, to Umbrian producers and exporters in the food sector.

The EPA/EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement entered into force on 1 February 2019 and is the largest bilateral trade agreement ever concluded by the EU in terms of market size, and provides for the elimination of most tariffs on traded goods. More than 90% of tariff barriers on European goods bound for Japan have been abolished or reduced since the entry into force of the Agreement, and once fully implemented, the threshold of 97% will be reached. In addition, 205 high-quality European agricultural products, so-called geographical indications, are protected, including 45 Italian products (ranging from wines and other spirits to cheeses and cured meats).

To guide and inform businesses on the content of the agreement, the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation - a joint initiative of the European Commission and the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry - has opened the EU-Japan EPA Helpdesk.

Sviluppumbria will welcome experts Prof. C. Nakabayashi and Mr Van Eesbeek to meet food producers and exporters in the virtual seminar on Monday 15 June. The webinar will be in English and will also include question and answer sessions open to participants. The deadline to register is 12 noon on Friday 11 June.

Learn more about Sviluppumbria and the Enterprise Europe Network