Source: Susan Kelly, MEATINGPLACE, 8/18/17


The United States and Japan have agreed to accelerate bilateral trade talks, and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer expressed U.S. concerns about Japan’s recent move to raise tariffs on frozen U.S. beef exports in a meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono, the USTR’s office said in a statement.

The government of Japan in July announced that rising imports of frozen beef in the first quarter of the Japanese fiscal year (April-June) triggered an automatic increase to Japan's tariff rate on imports of frozen beef from the United States. U.S. exports of beef and beef products to Japan totaled $1.5 billion last year, making it the United States’ top market.

Lighthizer said the United States agreed with Japan to explore approaches to strengthen free and fair trade and promote high trade and investment standards, in addition to addressing specific trade issues. Topics of common concern related to combating unfair trade practices by third countries also were addressed during the meeting.

“We look forward to constructive and vigorous engagement with Japan across many issues to improve trade outcomes for American workers,” Lighthizer said in the statement.

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