EU Signs International Coffee Agreement 2022, Ushering in New Era of Global Coffee Cooperation
July 23 - 2026
Coffee Geography Magazine
The European Union formally signed the International Coffee Agreement 2022 (ICA 2022) on Tuesday July 21st , marking a landmark commitment to a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient coffee sector for all. The signing ceremony, held at the International Coffee Organization’s headquarters in London, represents a significant step forward in international cooperation on one of the world’s most vital agricultural commodities.
The European Union formally signed the International Coffee Agreement 2022 (ICA 2022)
The ICA 2022 is the eighth successive agreement since the International Coffee Organization (ICO) was established in 1963 under the auspices of the United Nations. Following the approval of the first International Coffee Agreement in 1962, the ICO has continued to operate under successive agreements negotiated over six decades, including the ICA 1968, 1976, 1983, 1994, 2001, and 2007. The new agreement was adopted following a thorough revision of the 2007 Agreement at the ICO Council’s 133rd Session on 9 June 2022.
The ICO is the only intergovernmental organization for coffee, bringing together exporting and importing governments from around the world. As of February 2022, the Organization represents 49 members covering 75 countries, accounting for 93% of world coffee production and 63% of world consumption. Its mission is to strengthen the global coffee sector and promote its sustainable expansion in a market-based environment for the benefit of all actors in the global coffee value chain. The Organization provides a unique forum for dialogue among governments, the private sector, development partners, civil society, and all coffee stakeholders to tackle challenges through international cooperation.
The ICA 2022 opens the door to a new era of global cooperation in the sector. The agreement aims to strengthen the global coffee industry and promote its economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable development. It updates the balance of voting and contribution systems and addresses the integration of the private sector and civil society into the ICO’s work, while maintaining the intergovernmental nature of the Organization. The global coffee industry is now valued at over USD 300 billion annually, providing livelihoods for millions of people from farmers to baristas across the world.
Japan and the United States: Key Importing Members
Japan has been an active participant in this international effort. On behalf of the Government of Japan, Ambassador HAYASHI Hajime signed the new International Coffee Agreement and exchanged views with ICO Executive Director Vanúsia Nogueira on its impact on international cooperation for a sustainable coffee industry. Japan rejoined the ICO on 23 July 2015, becoming the eighth importing member of the Organization. It joined the European Union, Norway, the Russian Federation, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, and the United States of America in that category. With Japan’s accession, the ICO’s member states came to represent 95% of world coffee production and 83% of world consumption. Today, Japan is recognized as one of the world’s top five coffee-consuming nations.
Ambassador HAYASHI Hajime of Japan signed the new International Coffee Agreement and exchanged views with ICO Executive Director Vanúsia Nogueira
The United States, meanwhile, has had a longer and more complex relationship with the Organization. A founding member of the ICO in 1963, the U.S. withdrew in 1993 before rejoining on 3 February 2005, when then-Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced the country’s accession to the 2001 International Coffee Agreement. However, the United States officially withdrew from the International Coffee Agreement again in June 2018. As the world’s largest coffee-buying country, the U.S. remains a key player in global coffee markets.
The ICA 2022 represents a renewed commitment from its signatories to address the collective challenges facing the coffee sector. As the agreement continues to gather signatures from both exporting and importing member countries, it signals a shared vision for a sustainable future—one where international cooperation transcends the traditional divide between producers and consumers.