Greece gets trade boost with Japan

The European Union signed a trade agreement with Japan on Tuesday which removes 99% of tariffs paid by EU companies exporting to Japan, and will effectively increase trade between Greece and the land of the rising sun.

According to a European Commission infographic, businesses of all sizes throughout Greece already export a wide range of goods and services, but the trade agreement will make it easier and cheaper to do so.

Among facts that relate to Greece-Japan trade, the Commission lists the following:

–    Number of Greek companies exporting to Japan: 497

–    Number of jobs in Greece that EU exports to Japan help support: 2,981

–    Main Greek products exported to Japan: Olive oil, marble (and other stone), pasta

–    Value of Greek exports to Japan: 94 mln euros

–    Value of Greek imports from Japan: 121 mln euros

“We are putting in place the largest bilateral trade deal ever. This is an act of enormous strategic importance for the rules-based international order, at a time when some are questioning this order. We are sending a clear message that we stand together against protectionism,” European Council President Donald Tusk said following the EU-Japan summit in Tokyo.

The infographic is available at europa.eu