During talks with his Japanese counterpart Shinjiro Koizumi on Tuesday, the Economy, Employment and Agriculture Minister David Clarinval (Francophone liberal) called on Japan to lift its long-standing ban on Belgian pear imports. Japan banned the import of pears from Belgium 13 years ago amid concern that invasive insect species could enter the country with the pears.
At Tuesday’s meeting Mr Clarinval urged Japan to restart and accelerate negotiations between the Belgian Federal Food Safety Agency (FAVV) and its own food safety authority. Mr Clarinval told journalists “I am confident we can move forward,” Currently, Belgian agricultural exports to Japan are worth 230 million euro per annum.
On Sunday Mr Clarinval attended the Belgian Day at the World Expo in Osaka. There he took the opportunity to stress the importance of our trade relations with Japan. “Japan is Belgium’s third-largest trading partner in Asia and its second-biggest investor outside Europe.” The Belgium’s pavilion at the Expo is located in the 'saving lives' zone. It show cases Belgium’s pharmaceutical and life sciences industries.
Broader cooperation
The Federal Economy Minister has also hinted a broader cooperation between Belgium and Japan. “Our opportunities for cooperation with Japan go beyond the biopharmaceutical sector. Whether it be in agriculture, energy, digital technology or the defence industry”.
In addition to Mr Clarival, the Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot and the Digitalisation and Public Buildings Minister Vanessa Matz (both Francophone centrist) are also in Japan for a series of bilateral meetings.