Source: POLITICO'S MORNING AGRICULTURE, 12/11/18

A handful of ag groups want the Trump administration to reach a speedy trade agreement with Japan in the coming months to make up for Trump withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership. U.S. agriculture's desire for a deal might actually boost Tokyo's leverage in negotiations, Pro Trade's Doug Palmer reports.

— "The U.S. beef industry is at risk of losing significant market share in Japan unless immediate action is taken to level the playing field," Kevin Kester, president of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, said during a U.S. Trade Representative hearing Monday on the proposed negotiations.

— Pork and grain groups also stressed the importance of a deal with Japan, the fourth largest market for U.S. ag products.

— The ag groups are also still in the dark about when China will resume buying U.S. commodities (and how much it'll purchase) under the short-term trade truce, Doug reports.