The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) said the Japanese Diet approved the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement secured by the Trump Administration. Japan is the top value market for U.S. beef and pork exports.

“The Meat Institute applauds the Japanese Diet for swiftly approving a deal that will provide better access for American beef and pork exports to the critical Japanese market,” said Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts. “The U.S. will now be better positioned to compete with countries in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and the European Union for valuable market share. We also continue to urge Congress to approve the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement and to encourage the Administration to further strengthen negotiations with China and the EU to provide additional certainty for American consumers, workers and meat and poultry processors and producers.”

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer indicated President Trump would sign the deal next week paving the way for it to enter into force as planned on January 1, 2020. 

Once implemented, the agreement will reduce tariffs on U.S. beef and pork exports to Japan to the same rates as those currently being paid by Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) countries and the European Union.

Source: NAMI