Why Is The USDA Going To Japan?

Japan is already a top destination for a variety of American ag products, including many commodities grown right here in the Pacific Northwest.  So, why is the USDA leading a trade mission to a market where the U.S. is already doing so well?

“We signed a U.S.-Japan trade agreement that was signed in 2019," said Ryan Brewster with the Foreign Agricultural Service.  "So the last time we had a trade mission to Japan we didn't have this agreement in place.”

Brewster noted that trade deal has given several U.S. Ag exports preferential treatment, allowing those goods to enter Japan either duty free or at preferential rates.

“We see that the opportunity for US ag products, while has already been great, is growing in Japan last year in 2022, the United States was Japan's top supplier of agricultural products.  The United States exported over $14 billion worth of product to Japan in 2022.  And we see that actually increasing in the future, it's increased quite a bit since pre COVID, and we like to think that has the lot to do with the trade agreement that we put into place in 2019.”

The trade mission runs June 5th-8th, and will include stops in two cities, Tokyo and Osaka.  Applications for the mission will be accepted through February 27th.

Click Here to learn more or to submit your application.

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