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Report
No.240304 |
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- International - |
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Japan and Mexico Revise Access Terms under Economic Partnership Agreement The substance of revision to the Economic Partnership Agreement centered on Free Trade Agreement between Japan and Mexico was publicized on September 19. In-quota tariff rates for agriculture and livestock products which Japan will apply on imports from Mexico within its low tariff quotas will be reduced for beef (frozen or chilled) from the present 38.5% to 30.8%; and halved for fresh oranges from the present 32% during winter (December through May) and from the present 16% during summer (July through November). Japan-Mexico EPA, which came into force in April 2005, introduced tariff rate quota system for chicken meat, beef and oranges, and the tariff rates within the quotas were to be negotiated based on the agreement. Negotiations were held at vice-minister level on September 4 and 5 on in-quota tariff rate of chicken meat and additionally on tariff rates of beef and fresh oranges for the 3rd to 5th years after coming into force of the agreement. A deal was struck and inked on September 21. The agreed in-quota tariff rates will apply from April 2007 based on the latest deal, pending the approval of the revised agreement by the Diet. Mexican beef and fresh oranges now enjoy 10 tons each of tariff-free quota for two years of temporary measures. Original agreement provided for expansion of low tariff quotas for beef from 3,000 tons to 6,000 tons over the course of three years from April 2007 and its doubling from 2,000 tons to 4,000 tons for fresh oranges. Negotiations at this time fixed the in-quota tariff rates to apply within those expanding quotas. In-quota tariff under the low tariff quota for chicken meat will be reduced from 11.9% to 8.5% for the de-boned meat, it was decided. |
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