Japan could increase the quota of bananas imported from Thailand

Under the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA), an annual quota of 8,000 tonnes of Thai bananas are exempt from customs duties in Japan. 

 

The Thai media are reporting that the annual quota of 8,000 tonnes of bananas is almost exhausted. According to Thai trade representative Narumon Pinyosinwat, as soon as the 8,000 tonne limit is reached, Thailand can request an increase to 100,000 tonnes. 

 

In Japan, Ryosuke Ogawa, Vice-Minister for International Affairs at MAFF, the Ministry of Agriculture, explained that when the limit was reached, the request would be discussed.

 

Before the economic agreement, Thai banana exports to Japan were modest, at around 3,000 tonnes a year. Japan imports around 1 million tonnes of bananas a year, mainly from the Philippines, which has a market share of 76%.