US and Japan agree on slashing meat tariffs
The US administration and the Japanese government reached an agreement in trade deal negotiations and of the major improvements regards the meat access in Japan. Tariffs will be slashed in a series of steps; with the 38.5 percent tariff on beef plunging to 9 percent; the 4.3 percent tariffs on higher grade pork dropping to zero, and $4.58 per kilogram tariff on low-grade pork reduced to $0.47 per kilogram.
"This announcement is tremendous news for US farmers and ranchers, and for everyone in the red meat supply chain because it will level the playing field for US pork and beef in the world’s most competitive red meat import market. It is also a very positive development for our customer base in Japan, which USMEF and our industry partners have spent decades building. These customers have been very loyal to US pork and beef, but our exports to Japan could not reach their full potential under Japan’s current tariff structure.
USMEF thanks the Trump administration for prioritizing trade negotiations with Japan, and especially the officials at USTR and USDA who worked tirelessly to secure this agreement. Favorable access to Japan is a major win, not only for the US red meat industry but for all of US agriculture and for our nation’s rural economy", declared Dan Halstrom, President and CEO, US Meat Export Federation.
In terms of value, Japan is one the largest destination for US agricultural exports, accounting for with $12.9 billion but it has used multiple tariff and non-tariff barriers to limit the growth of American agricultural imports for decades, according to the US Congressional Research Service. The US-Japan trade deal is to be signed in September.
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