Initial Progress Made on U.S.-Japan Trade Issues

The U.S. and Japan in a joint statement said the two nations have made “initial progress” on trade issues.  The statement comes as Vice President Mike Pence talked with Japan’s Deputy Prime Minister earlier this week.  The Joint statement says some “initial progress” on bilateral trade issues such as lifting import restrictions on Japanese persimmons and Idaho potatoes.

Meanwhile, U.S. beef producers were eager to see the talks begin to address Japan’s safeguard tariff that ratcheted up duties of imported frozen beef from 38.5% to 50%.  The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association said long-term competitive market access to Japan is the “number one priority for the U.S. beef industry.”

The statement from Pence and Japan said that: “Both sides committed to build on momentum in the dialogue to demonstrate progress in the near future.”

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