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Bilateral Trade Agreement with Japan remain priority for U.S.

An official with the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service says the U.S. needs to focus trade negotiations on lowering tariffs with Japan.

Jason Hafemeister says Japan is a good market for the U.S., but high tariffs restrict market access.

“Up to 50 percent on beef for example and tariffs on dairy products and pork products can be up to 100 percent,” he says.

He tells Brownfield the challenge is getting Japan to the table because they are focused on agreements with other countries in the European Union and the 10 other countries in the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

President Trump withdrew from the TPP trade negotiations in January and the other countries are moving forward with the negotiations without the U.S.

“We have told Japan that this is a big priority for U.S. agriculture- getting an agreement that opens that market,” he says.

The White House says U.S. and Japan have made some progress in recent economic dialogue meetings led by Vice President Mike Pence that could lead to bilateral trade agreements.

Hafameister says continuing negotiations will be a big priority for the U.S. in the new year.

Audio: Jason Hafameister, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service