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The booth of a Shaoxing-based company at the Japan International Food and Beverage Expo on July 9. [Photo/Tide News]

A delegation of 11 yellow rice wine producers and one food company from Shaoxing, Zhejiang province, joined the three-day Japan International Food and Beverage Expo, which opened in Tokyo on July 9.

Yellow rice wine is a signature export for Shaoxing, with local companies shipping about 15,000 metric tons annually to markets including Japan, Singapore, and Thailand.

Following the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership in January 2022, Japan has twice reduced tariffs on rice wine imports under the agreement.

From January to May this year, Shaoxing's yellow rice wine exports to Japan totaled 25.99 million yuan ($3.62 million), up 5.0 percent year-on-year, as RCEP benefits continued to be felt.

Over the same period, the city organized 191 business delegations involving 1,019 companies to participate in overseas exhibitions, securing intended deals worth $250 million.