European confectionery trade body, Caobisco, has offered its backing to advanced negotiations between the EU and Thailand, with a core free trade agreement close to being signed, reports Neill Barston.

The industry group, which represents some 15,000 businesses across the sector across the continent, is due to play an notable role in our World Confectionery Conference, with its president Tobias Bachmüller opening our event on 10 September in London.

According to its senior leader, Thailand already represents a growing destination for European exports for sweets and snacks, with an expansion of that relationship into a formal trading agreement anticipated to bring significant mutual benefits. 

Moreover, as the organisation observed, Thailand is seeing enhanced demand for premium chocolate, biscuits and confectionery, which the EU is well-placed to serve.

As it noted, by reducing the current high import tariffs—10% on chocolate and 20% on both sugar confectionery and sweet biscuits—the trade agreement would enhance the competitiveness of European exporters and create new growth opportunities, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises.

In its view Caobisco believed the agreement should incorporate business-friendly Rules of Origin, which should not be be too restrictive to ensure a positive flow of trade in both directions. 

Tobias Bachmüller, President of Cabisco, asserted that there were clear benefits to be seen from both sides.

He commented: “Europe’s chocolate, biscuit and confectionery industry is a global leader in quality, innovation and exports. To maintain this position, companies need both predictable access to key ingredients and better opportunities to reach growing international markets.

“Thailand already represents an important destination for European confectionery exports, worth more than €60 million in 2024, and an ambitious, balanced trade agreement can help unlock further growth while strengthening the resilience and competitiveness of Europe’s food industry.”

Furthermore, Caobisco stated that the  EU–Thailand Free Trade Agreement should also improve market access for agricultural products and food ingredients. More diversified and reliable supply chains are essential to strengthen resilience, competitiveness and long-term food security.

One important example is sugar. As a key ingredient for Europe’s chocolate, biscuit a confectionery industry, access to diversified sources of supply is vital. Thailand is one of the world’s leading sugar exporters, yet it currently plays only a limited role in supplying the EU market.

In its view, the agreement should highlight that potential to open up markets further in order to support Europe’s value-added food industries, while striking a balance of fairness to all across the supply chain,

Furthermore, it stated that strong, diversified supply chains are essential to sustain Europe’s leadership in high-quality food production, innovation and exports.

Earlier this year, Caobisco was among bodies welcoming prospects for another  major deal, between the EU and the Mercosur group of nations in South America, with the confectionery body believing there would be significant opportunities as part of the bloc’s overall trade put at €77 billion with its counterparts in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Bolivia, as well as other associate members in the region that have been part of negotiations spanning a huge 25 years of engagement.

• Registration for this year’s World Confectionery Conference remains open and is being conducted through our dedicated event website, where you can see the full agenda for this year’s event at confectioneryconference.com