Japan has kicked off 2025 with a strong commitment to advancing its international food trade, beginning with a major collaboration with Australia and the successful registration of six new Geographical Indications (GI). These moves are part of Japan’s broader strategy to enhance its food exports and strengthen agricultural value chains globally.
Japan’s Bold Goals for International Trade
Japan has long set its sights on expanding its food export sector, with a target to achieve a JPY 5 trillion goal by 2030. While the country faced some setbacks in 2024—such as the China seafood ban related to its Fukushima wastewater release project—Japan has maintained its focus and resilience in pursuing its goals. The latest efforts mark a significant leap forward in Japan’s international food trade strategy.
New Agreement with Australia
In a landmark move, Japan and Australia have agreed to a national-level collaboration aimed at developing their agricultural and food value chains. The agreement, signed in February 2025, is intended to enhance food trade and investment relations between the two nations, with a particular focus on agricultural and fishery products.
Yoichi Watanabe, Vice Minister of Japan’s Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF), emphasized the agreement’s comprehensive nature, saying, “This cooperation will cover the entire chain, linking each stage of added value from production to manufacturing, processing, distribution, and consumption.” The partnership will also focus on fostering joint production of local agricultural, food, and fishery products to cater to both Southeast Asian and other international markets.
Strengthening Food Value Chains and Modernization
The agreement between Japan and Australia is set to complement existing partnerships and investments, which have historically strengthened the agrifood sector. Both nations recognize the importance of counter-seasonal production, with varying agricultural and fishery cycles in each country, making them natural partners in this initiative.
Adam Fennessey, Australian Secretary for the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry, noted that the collaboration will also include modernizing the supply chains. This could involve increasing the digitization of supply chains, making the trade process more efficient and transparent.
Key areas of cooperation between the two countries will involve:
- Technical and policy exchange
- Import and export collaboration
- Government-led promotions to the industry
The Japan-Australia High-Level Dialogue will continue discussions and foster further collaboration in the coming months.
Japan’s Success in Geographical Indications
In addition to the agreement with Australia, Japan has also made strides in protecting and promoting its food products through Geographical Indications (GI). Recently, Japan saw the successful registration of six new GIs, which are set to protect the country’s unique food items and ensure that only authentic products bearing the GI label can be sold internationally.
These GIs will play a crucial role in expanding Japan’s export footprint by ensuring that traditional food products, such as regional rice and sake, are protected and marketed as authentic Japanese products. This move is expected to help Japan maintain its food quality standards while boosting its agricultural exports.
Looking Ahead
With its commitment to collaboration with Australia, successful GI registrations, and a robust strategy for expanding food trade, Japan is poised for a successful 2025. The country’s ongoing efforts to build strong trade partnerships and modernize its agricultural processes will likely position it as a leading player in the international food market in the coming years.
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