Ireland hopes to boost exports under Japan-EU EPA

September 30, 2017

TOKYO- Ireland hopes to boost sales of its products in the Japanese market under an economic partnership pact on which Japan and the European Union reached a broad agreement in July, Frances Fitzgerald, deputy prime minister of the European country, said in a recent interview with Jiji Press.

"We think it (EPA) will open up a lot of opportunities for exporters, and increase trade between Europe and Japan," Fitzgerald said. She also underscored the significance of the free trade pact with Japan for her country, which will be significantly affected by the exit of Britain, its key trading partner, from the EU.

"We want to see more of food products in Japan," Fitzgerald noted.

After the EPA fully takes effect, Japan's import tariff on beef from the EU will be lowered from 38.5 pct to 9 pct in stages over the 15 years.

The tariff cuts will make Irish beef "more attractive" for Japanese consumers, she noted.

The deputy prime minister also said it is "good news" that Japanese tariffs on EU-made medical equipment and drugs will be scrapped. Ireland is a major exporter of medical products for Japan.

According to Irish government officials, some 80 Japanese companies have business footholds in the country, employing about 4,000 local people.

Ireland would see more Japanese businesses to come in from Britain ahead of Brexit, because its labor laws and custom are similar to those of Britain, the officials said. Jiji Press