News

Censky calls Japan trade deal “big win” for US agriculture

USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Censky says the signing of a preliminary trade agreement between the US and Japan Wednesday was a big win for US farmers and ranchers.

“It does provide that kind of certainty that producers have been hoping for.”

Censky tells Brownfield the deal either eliminates or significantly reduces the tariffs on around $7 billion of US commodities with beef, pork, wheat and dairy benefitting the most.

He says the agreement puts the US on a level playing field with competitors in the TPP agreement.

“Japan has the trade agreement with the European Union as well as a member of the TPP and really what US trade representatives strove for was to make sure that our products were going to be competitive as under those agreements.”

He says the two countries will continue to negotiate and add to the trade agreement.

“This isn’t the end of the road for agriculture. This covers around 90% of the dutiable trade, we will be working on the other 10%.”

Censky says he is looking forward to a full trade deal in the future.