Irish Whiskey Association participates in EU Trade Mission to Thailand
- IWA among 100+ delegates from across the EU to visit Thailand this week on a High-Level Trade Mission
- EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, Christophe Hansen, leading delegation to encourage conclusion of free trade agreement negotiations with Thailand
- Irish Whiskey celebrated today as most-recently recognised GI in event at THAIFEX Anuga Fair, the largest food and beverage trade show in Asia.
The Irish Whiskey Association, the representative body of the Irish Whiskey Association with responsibility for promotion and protection of the category at home and abroad, is this week participating in a High-Level Trade Mission to Thailand, organised by DG AGRI of the European Commission.
This trade mission brings over 100 delegates of the food and drinks industry to Thailand for a series of meetings with government and industry in the agri-food business.
This mission coincides with negotiations on a free trade agreement between the EU and Thailand, with optimism expressed that this can be meaningfully concluded this year. Both the EU and Thailand are subject to increased tariffs in their biggest export market – the USA.
Irish Whiskey is the most recently recognised Geographical Indication (GI) in Thailand, offering further protections for the category in this emerging market. Thailand is currently the 33rd biggest market for Irish Whiskey, with just under 1 million bottles sold there last year.
This recognition was at the centre of the THAIFEX Anuga Fair today. THAIFEX is Asia’s leading food and beverage trade show, and the EU Pavilion this morning welcomed Vice Minister for Commerce of Thailand, Dr. Kirida Bhaopichitr, and EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, Christophe Hansen to celebrate mutual GI recognition. Irish Whiskey was served in a cocktail with Thailand’s most recent GI, Ratchaburi Coconut, to the gathered delegates, including Ambassador of Ireland to Thailand, His Excellency Patrick Bourne.
Speaking at the EU Pavilion today, Director of the Irish Whiskey Association Eoin Ó Catháin welcomed this celebration and encouraged a swift conclusion of the free trade negotiations:
“Market diversification has taken on renewed importance for Irish Whiskey, as it has for all export-oriented sectors. At the moment, EU spirits face a prohibitive tariff in this important emerging market, so any reduction in that or other trade barriers would be a boon for Irish Whiskey distillers. I am encouraged to see the strong work of the Embassy of Ireland and Bord Bia in this region, and the Irish Whiskey Association is keen to help build on this foundation wherever we can”.
Thailand, and Asia overall, is proving fertile ground for Irish Whiskey and drinks exports. India is now the second largest market for Irish Whiskey, and the IWA hopes to secure EU co-funding for promotion of the GI in this market and Japan this year.
The IWA continues to advocate for tariff reductions in the USA and took the opportunity to engage with the Commissioner of Agriculture on this and other issues throughout the week.
