Canada has secured an agreement for domestic cherries, largely produced in B.C., to enter the Japanese market, officials said Friday.
Federal agriculture minister Lawrence MacAulay made the announcement in the Okanagan town of Winfield. In addition to announcing the deal with Japan, MacAulay said the federal government will invest up to $292,555 with the Organic Federation of Canada to boost the organic industry’s competitiveness and international market access.
Japan is Canada’s third-largest trading partner for agri-foods and seafood, with Canadian exports reaching $4.5 billion in 2017. During the same year, Japan also imported more than $62.7 million in fresh cherries, mostly from countries other than Canada.
The deal, officials say, is part of Canada’s participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP-11), after the departure of the United States last year). The deal will eliminate Japan’s 8.5% tariff on fresh cherries within five years of TPP-11 being ratified in Ottawa.
Some observers expect ratification this fall.
B.C. Cherry Association president Sukhpaul Bal said in a statement that he is happy that another overseas market had been secured.
“Our growers and industry partners look forward to building long-lasting relationships with Japanese customers and cannot wait to see cherries branded with the maple leaf in stores across Japan," Bal said.
In 2014, B.C. signed a deal with China to allow full, unimpeded access to B.C. cherries in the Chinese market.
