(Yicai Global) Dec. 12 -- Japan’s agricultural and aquatic exports reached a record high this year, and China was the top destination, as the Asian country reaps benefits from the world’s biggest trade pact, which came into effect in January, as well as a weakening Japanese yen.

Japan’s exports of agricultural and aquatic products to China jumped 24.5 percent this year from last year to JPY229.3 billion (USD1.6 billion), according to the Japanese government.

Japan-China trade has greatly benefited from the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, which brought in tariff concessions between the two East Asian giants for the first time.

China’s tariffs on its main imports from Japan, namely scallops as well as liquors sake and shochu, will be reduced in stages and reach zero after 21 years. Before the RCEP came into force, China levied a 40 percent tax on Japanese sake. Shochu used to be taxed at 10 percent and this too will be eliminated by 2043. And levies on over half of China’s exports of agricultural products to Japan will also eventually be trimmed to zero.

The RCEP has significantly reduced taxes and time-related costs for Japanese sake producers, Kenji Mizuta, director of the Shanghai representative office of the Japan External Trade Organization, told Yicai Global.

Thanks to the trade pact, 172 types of Japanese sake went on display at the China International Import Expo held early last month, up from 70 kinds a year ago, Mizuta said.

To maximize the opportunities presented, the Japanese government has revised its “Export Expansion Implementation Strategy” and added “ornamental koi fish” to its list of priority exports.

The colorful fish are popular in the Asian and European markets as a decorative element in gardens. The Japanese government hopes to make ‘swimming art’ a prominent part of its agricultural and fishery exports, Japanese media reported. It aims to hike koi exports by 60 percent by 2025 from 2021 to JPY9.7 billion (USD70.8 million), and will support koi breeding and sales by industry groups.

Editors: Shi Yi, Kim Taylor