Why EU-Japan agreement is good news for Montebelluna
20/07/2018
Once procedures are finalised both at the EU level and in Japan, the agreement should come into force in early 2019, FESI said, removing tariffs on products shipped between the two trading partners.
“The sporting goods industry is confident that the agreement will foster sustainable economic growth, boost global trade and generate jobs both in the EU and Japan,” the statement said. “Once in place, the free trade agreement will bring substantial benefits for both trading partners and ensure lower costs for imported as well as exported goods for producers and consumers, increasing consumers’ purchasing power.”
It pointed out that the ski boots industry currently faces a 27% import duty in Japan and 17% in Europe. It went on to say that a substantial number of high-skilled jobs in the ski boots production sector are in the European Union, which is one of the largest exporters of this type of footwear. Design, distribution and marketing for these products are often also located in the EU.
The statement mentioned the ski boots cluster in the Montebelluna area in northern Italy, claiming it produces 60% of the world’s ski boots.
“Securing an open, predictable and transparent trading environment between Japan and the EU will enable companies to invest, maintain and even expand these jobs in the EU, but also in Japan where a certain number of subsidiaries have been established,” it concluded.
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