Discussions between the EU and Japan on a free trade agreement (FTA) resume this week after coming close to a deal just before Christmas.

This is a significant market for Irish pigmeat and dairy produce and, as Japan is consistently in the top three beef importing countries, should have some beef potential as well.

It is a big buyer of the part of the animal known as ‘‘Mountain Chain’’ from the stomach area.

Meat quotas will be a difficult negotiation as the Japanese are extremely protective of their farmers and agriculture in general.

There is little, if any, potential for sale of agricultural products from Japan to the EU.