In a letter spearheaded by IDFA, 89 food and agriculture associations and companies urged U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to negotiate a free trade agreement with Japan that allows improved market access and expands opportunities for U.S. exports. Lighthizer and Japanese Economy Minister Toshimitsu Motegi met last week to begin discussing the framework for a possible agreement between the two countries, and IDFA aims to ensure that U.S. dairy and other agricultural industries remain an integral part of the discussions.
Also, President Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Abe are scheduled to discuss trade this week when Abe visits Washington, D.C.
Japan is currently the fourth-largest market for U.S. agricultural products, but that ranking may change in the near future. In the letter, the group highlighted the disadvantages that American agricultural exports face from “competing regional and bilateral agreements with Japan that have already been implemented, including the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the European Union-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EU-Japan EPA).”
Calling for a level playing field, the group asked for market access provisions that at least equal the terms of the CPTPP and the EU-Japan EPA in the first stage of implementation and include an accelerated phase-in of tariff cuts. Non-tariff barriers, such as sanitary and phytosanitary measures, biotechnology, TRQ administration, and geographical indications, must also be addressed, the group said.
Japan is the fifth-largest market for U.S. dairy products, which was valued at $270 million in 2018. IDFA will continue to stress to the administration and Congress that bilateral trade agreements with Japan and other countries in the Asia-Pacific region are critically important to the continued growth of the U.S. dairy industry and the American economy.
Members with questions may contact Beth Hughes, IDFA senior director of international affairs, at bhughes@idfa.org.