Supporting local jobs and businesses through trade with Japan

  • Media release

The Morrison Government is strengthening Australia's relationship with Japan while supporting local jobs and businesses to succeed internationally.

Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Dan Tehan is in Japan promoting Australian trade and investment, including meetings with Japan Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Kajiyama Hiroshi and a business roundtable.

Mr Tehan said Japanese demand for Australia's high-quality products had never been greater.

Our Government is supporting Australian export jobs and businesses through:

  • The $72.7 million Agri-Business Expansion Initiative which is helping Australian farming, forestry and fishing exporters to expand and diversify their export markets in 2021.
  • The International Freight Assistance Mechanism (IFAM) which is helping Australian exporters to deliver their produce to international customers in Japan, and around the world, despite the impact on supply chains from COVID-19.
  • Austrade providing direct, one-on-one support to Australian exporters.

“Japan is Australia's second-largest export market, worth $53.76 billion in 2019-20,” Mr Tehan said.

“We share a long-standing, positive mutually beneficial relationship, with Australia's agricultural products highly regarded by Japanese consumers as clean, green, safe, secure and most importantly, reliable.

“Supporting our local producers to reach the Japanese market is a win for Australian jobs and businesses and a win for Japanese consumers.

“The Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement, which was delivered by our Government, gives Australian exporters significantly improved market access in goods and services and substantially improves investment protections.”

Examples of Austrade supporting local jobs and businesses access the Japan market:

  • The Made Group's Impressed Juice range of cold-pressed juices are now available across Japan after the company secured a significant deal to distribute its products in supermarkets and convenience stores. Made Group CEO and Co-founder Luke Marget said: “At this point in time, it's hard to see how any exporter could make a successful market entry without Austrade's assistance and advice. I'd encourage anyone exporting to any market to make use of Austrade's services and support.”
  • Albury based alternative milk company Vita Soy is taking advantage of a growing trend in Japan for almond, rice, macadamia and oat milk. Japan's Overseas Group has signed a deal with Vitasoy to distribute and range its Prebiotic Oat Milk and Prebiotic Almond Milk in more than 460 Kaldi Coffee Farm stores across Japan.
  • Premium seafood exporter, Pacific Bao Yu, has signed an impressive trade deal for the sale of four tonnes of Individually Quick Frozen (IQF) Abalone meat with Japanese customer Zensho.

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