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Japan trade talks good for US beef and pork sectors

The head of the US Meat Export Federation says the longer the US waits to get a trade deal with Japan, the more it could cost US beef and pork producers. 

Dan Halstrom says talk of an ag-only deal with Japan is good news.  “We need to get some agricultural trade deal as soon as possible to get us on a level playing field with our major competitors,” he says.  “Australia on beef and Europe, Canada on pork.”

Halstrom was recently in Japan and he says the fact that these talks are underway is momentous.  “Members from Japan with meeting with USTR Lighthizer and then there is a follow-up visit with Abe and President Trump,” he says.  “These are significant milestones and the trade in Japan was relieved and happy to see the process is starting.”

With a combined value of 3.6-billion dollars in export sales, Japan is the number one market for US beef and pork and accounts for more than 30 percent of total ag exports into the country.

Halstrom says the momentum behind the talks needs to continue and a deal needs to be reached sooner, rather than later.