Japan and Mexico As Global Players in the Horticultural World Market

Abstract: Horticultural trade reflects the major features of current globalization. The first one is the multi polarization of the economic world, whereas especially three great centers are dominating, namely: the USA, the European Union, and East Asia (China and Japan). The structure and trends of this trade can be explained by the Food Regime analytical approach, which states that during the Third Food Regime, which started in the mid-1980s, vegetables and fruits became the most relevant part of international agricultural trade flows. In this context both Mexico and Japan are playing an important role, Mexico as major exporter of fresh products and Japan as main buyer of these items. Mexico is located in the sphere of influence of the USA and Japan is the axis of the East Asian economic bloc. Mexican exports are depending strongly on the USA market and Japan’s demand of food must be satisfied mostly by imports, particularly from USA and China. At the same time, Mexican fresh vegetables are losing competitiveness in their principal market and the Japanese consumer is losing confidence on the safety of imported foods from China and the USA. All these facts make clear both countries necessitate of diversify their markets. Therefore it is necessary to explore the possibilities of enhancing the horticultural trade between Japan and Mexico, and also to analyze the Mexican experience as successful supplier of several fresh products to the Japanese market, for instance, mangos, avocados, melons, asparagus, kabocha pumpkins and others. At the same time it is a good moment for an evaluation of the Free Trade Agreement Mexico-Japan, started eight years ago.