Mexico seeks rise in agriculture exports to Japan in 2010

The Mexican government announced on Tuesday (Feb 2) that it is seeking a 20% rise in agriculture exports to Japan this year.

The target was announced during the official visit to Japan by Mexican President, Felipe Calderon, who is being accompanied by Agriculture Minister, Francisco Mayorga and Economy Minister, Gerardo Ruiz.

Ruiz and Mayorga, who met with Japan's Agriculture Minister, Hirotaca Akamatsu, said that Mexico sought to expand agriculture exports to Japan, according to a joint statement by the two ministries.

Mayorga highlighted that Mexico is seeking enhanced preferential trade deals for agriculture exports of pork, beef and chicken meat, in addition to citrus products, sugar, honey and a number of specialised wheat and grains products.

Bilateral exports have grown by 10.9% to US$759 million by the end of 2008 since a trade agreement between the two countries took effect in 2005.

Trade during the first 10 months of 2009, has fallen to US$564 million because of the global economic crisis and sharply reduced pork exports following the outbreak of the swine-flu virus.

Mexico's agriculture ministry added that the 20% target is expected to see exports to Japan recovering to the value seen in the 2008 record year, and may even grow further in 2010.