AUSTRALIAN agribusinesses, financial services, health and education are the most likely to benefit from the Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement (JAEPA), which came into effect last week.
With Japan still Australia’s second-largest trading partner and one of Australia’s largest export markets, National Australia Bank (NAB) general manager, Japan, Kohei Tsushima says that the commencement of JAEPA is exciting for Australian business.
“More markets open for Australian business means more jobs in Australia,” Mr Tsushima said.
“JAEPA sends a clear message to Japanese investors that Australia is an attractive investment destination.
“For Australian businesses, the key is to success in Japan is to build strong relationships and have a consistent strategy. It might take time to build a relationship, but once that relationship is built, Japanese companies work very hard to ensure that both parties benefit.”
A range of agribusinesses are set to benefit from JAEPA with the tariff on frozen beef tariff, for example, set to drop for Australian beef from 38.5 per cent to 30.5pc.
“Australian frozen beef exporters will now have a competitive advantage as compared to US farmers who will continue to face higher tariffs.
“NAB also expects more Japanese companies to invest in upstream agribusiness in Australia. We’ve already seen the likes of Ito En, Kagome and Saizeriya invest in agribusinesses in Australia, and we expect to see more of these types of investments from large Japanese companies over time.”
According to Mr Tsushima, Australia’s financial services, health and education sectors are also likely to benefit from JAEPA.
“In the past, investment by Australian companies into Japan has been relatively low.”
However, with the JAEPA, there are now new opportunities for Australian businesses to move into Japan.
“The expertise of Australia’s world-class superannuation system, for example, could be exported to Japan.
“Australia is also well positioned to provide Japan expert advice on possible privatisations of Japanese infrastructure, such as airports and toll roads, which are still largely government owned.
“Many Japanese people just aren’t aware of the sophistication and advancement of the Australian health and education sectors, and this is where building new relationships into Japan and marketing campaigns can make a difference.”
JAEPA entered into force on January 15, following an exchange of notes by Australia and Japan on December 16, 2014, certifying that both parties had completed their domestic processes.
The agreement will provide valuable preferential access for Australia's exports and is by far the most liberalising trade agreement Japan has ever concluded.
