This is the second mission in 2016 to promote EU-agri food products to third countries. The previous trip had led to Columbia and Mexico in February.

Commissioner Hogan underlined in his statement: "China and Japan are particularly important markets for the EU agri-food sector which have shown considerable growth in recent years. I hope that these promotion events will highlight the quality, traditions, and added value of our products, as well as our food safety and traceability guarantees, and stimulate further interest from Chinese and Japanese consumers in European food and drink."

The trip aimed at building upon existing trade flows and to create new business opportunities for agri-food products in these countries. Further, barriers to current trade have also been.

Along with meetings with China’s and Japan’s ministers in charge of agriculture, sanitary and phytosanitary regulations, Commissioner Hogan has also hosted ‘European Restaurant Week’ events in Beijing and Tokyo and conducted field trips to local producers and retailers/markets.