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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 12 Mar 1986

Vol. 364 No. 8

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Whiskey Exports to Japan

16.

asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action which is being taken by the Government to support the EC Commission's efforts to secure greater access for whiskey exports to Japan which is the world's second largest market but which is protected by taxes and tariffs in Japan that almost totally favour domestic whiskey producers.

I am very conscious of the problem of high tariffs on whiskey imports into Japan. In recent years the market share of the domestically distilled spirit Shochu has increased greatly. At the same time imports of whiskey have fallen by approximately 20 per cent. The Commission has queried the matter with the Japanese on many occasions and the entire question is currently under active study by the Community. In co-operation with interested member states such as Ireland and a professional consulting service, the Commission has identified various factors of a regulatory nature that have worked to undermine the position of imported liquors on the Japanese market. Some of the key factors are: The impact of import duties; the impact of the Japanese tax regime; issues relating to product information, labelling — particularly of domestic Japanese liquor — and distribution.

It is of particular concern to us that the definition of whiskey in Japan should become much closer to the traditional distillers definition, which is that the spirit must be matured in wood for at least three years. At present in Japan a spirit of any age can be termed as whiskey.

Our representatives to the Community, as well as Irish Distillers and Córas Tráchtála, have actively pursued the Irish interest in this matter, and are continuing to do so.

I myself took the opportunity to raise the matter with the Parliamentary ViceMinister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Mr. Urano, when he visited Dublin in January this year and I made known to him our concerns. Our Embassy in Tokyo has also briefed the Japanese on our concerns in the matter.

Would the Minister agree that on account of the huge amount of electronics and motor cars imported from Japan he has a very strong lever on the Japanese Government in this regard?

I do. Not just Ireland but the EC and America are extremely concerned about the imbalances in trade with Japan. I hope this will be a number one priority on the agenda of the economic summit that will take place in Tokyo in May.

We will now move on to priority questions.

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