EPA - Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and Japan finalised

The negotiators in Brussels have defined it the greatest trade agreement in history. The Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and Japan will come into force in spring of 2019 at the latest. In a conference held at the Farnesina, the headquarters of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome, last 22nd and 23rd January, a number of topics were considered, such the opportunities for the Italian small and middle-sized businesses, spanning all the industries, from the pharmaceutical companies to luxury goods, from the automotive industry to food manufacturing and processing.

Regardless of the advantages of an open market, the free trade agreement as it has been finalise may damage the Italian exports of Italian cheeses of excellence. Whereas the 10 Italian designations of origin are still protected, the two-name labels (e.g. Grana Padano, Pecorino Toscano, etc.) may not be granted the same tutelage. Parmigiano-Reggiano itself is not safe. The agreement in its current form allows Japan to use the name Parmesan also for the various simulations of the cheese, with no fear of sanction. For this reason, Italy is actively trying to prevent the agreement in its actual form from being approved, while calling for some small changes to better protect its products.

More information (in Italian):
Il Sole 24 Ore http://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/mondo/2018-01-24/fr...
La Repubblica http://www.repubblica.it/economia/diritti-e-consum...