Starch Europe Welcomes EU-Japan Political Agreement

Starch Europe, the trade association which represents the interests of the EU starch industry, has welcomed the political agreement on an EU-Japan Economic Partnership, which was signed on 6 July after 4 years of negotiations. Starch Europe looks forward to improved access to the Japanese market for EU starch products.
Reacting to the news of the agreement reached, Jamie Fortescue, Starch Europe Managing Director, says: “With customs duties as high as 900 Euros per tonne for some starch products, access to the Japanese market for EU starch producers today is extremely challenging. The political agreement signed on 6 July should pave the way to new export opportunities for many EU starch producers. Starch Europe looks forward to the publication of the details of the concessions granted on EU starch products and hopes the deal will be finalised and implemented with minimum delay. We much appreciate the work of Commissioner Malmström and Commissioner Hogan in achieving this important step for the EU-Japan trade and thank them for their continued commitment to its rapid completion.”