NCBA Statement on Trade Agreement with Japan

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President Jennifer Houston today issued the following statement after attending a White House ceremony in honor of the bilateral trade agreement between the United States and Japan that will lower Japan’s massive tariffs on U.S. beef.

“I was deeply honored to attend the ceremony at the White House where we celebrated a bilateral trade agreement with Japan. As the top market for U.S. beef exports, Japan accounts for one quarter of our exports and roughly $2 billion in annual sales. As a beef producer, I understand the value of exports to my bottom line, and President Trump understands that increased access to foreign markets like Japan is the economic stimulus we need. We are grateful for President Trump’s leadership and for the hard work of...

NCC Applauds Signing of US-Japan Trade Deal

The United States and Japan outlined initial details of a trade deal as the countries work on details of a broader agreement in the coming months.

Under the agreement, frozen U.S. poultry will be among the agricultural products that will benefit from staged tariff elimination.

“Under the U.S.- Japan Trade Agreement, frozen chicken products will receive favorable tariff reductions enabling our products to compete more effectively with those countries in...

NPPC Officers Join President Trump for Japan Trade Pact Signing Ceremony 

President Trump and Japanese Prime Minster Abe signed a trade agreement that will once again allow U.S. pork producers to compete on a level playing field in Japan. NPPC President David Herring and President-Elect Howard “A.V.” Roth joined President Trump for the signing of the agreement in New York during the United Nations General Assembly meeting.

“I am honored to represent U.S. pork producers at a signing ceremony so important to my fellow hog farmers around the country,” said Herring, a pork producer from Lillington, North Carolina. “We’ve seen market share declines in Japan, historically our largest value export market, since the start of the year when international competitors gained...

U.S. Poultry, Egg Industries Welcome Announcement of Japan Trade Agreement

U.S. poultry and egg organizations welcome the announcement of a trade agreement between the United States and Japan, an achievement that stands to benefit our industry.

“Frozen chicken, turkey, and processed egg products will receive favorable tariff reductions enabling our products to compete more effectively with those of countries in the Trans-Pacific Partnership,” the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council (USAPEEC), National Chicken Council (NCC), National Turkey Federation (NTF) and United Egg Producers (UEP) said in a joint statement issued Monday.

“While this is just the first stage of a bilateral agreement, it is welcome news and we would like to thank President Trump, Secretary Perdue and Secretary Lighthizer for...

Industry Reacts to U.S. Trade Agreement with Japan 

On Sunday, President Trump announced that the United States and Japan reached a trade deal in principle, that would pave the way for more exports of U.S. agricultural products to Japan. In a tweet, President Trump stated, "We have excess corn in various parts of our country with our farmers because China did not do what they said they were going to do. And Prime Minister, Abe Shinzo, on behalf of Japan, they're going to be buying all of that corn."

Sonny Perdue, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, said, "Japan is a significant market for United States agriculture exports, making today a good day for American agriculture. By removing existing barriers for our products, we will be able to sell more to the Japanese markets." Perdue added that at the same time, the United States will be able to close gaps that allow...

U.S. Pork Industry Battling Challenges, NPPC President Tells Capitol Hill

The U.S. pork industry faces numerous challenges both at home and abroad that, if not addressed, will pose significant harm to our farms, rural communities and ultimately consumers, National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) President David Herring, a pork producer from Lillington, N.C., testified this morning before the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture.

“One of the most damaging threats to the U.S. pork industry has been the punitive, retaliatory trade tariffs that China and other countries have imposed,” Herring told the subcommittee.

China is the largest consumer and importer of pork in the world, but U.S. hog farmers have been sidelined, Herring told the subcommittee, due to China’s...

Crowd Cow Imports the A5 Wagyu Japanese Packer Brisket as New Product Offering

Crowd Cow, the online marketplace that sources its meat directly from the top 1% of farms and ranches across the country, including Japan for its Wagyu products, announced today that they have exclusively imported a limited amount of Japanese A5 Wagyu "Packer Briskets" into the United States. These briskets, the popular cut for barbecuing that comes from the lower chest of the cow, have a unique cut plan, different from that of a domestic brisket, which lends itself to weighing in at over 30 pounds untrimmed. Even more rare and exclusive are the fewer than 20 Olive Wagyu Briskets from Kagawa that Crowd Cow is offering. The marbling and tenderness of authentic Japanese A5 Wagyu produces...

U.S. Beef Gains Full Access to Japan

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced that the United States and Japan have agreed on new terms and conditions that eliminate Japan’s longstanding restrictions on U.S. beef exports, paving the way for expanded sales to the United States’ top global beef market. Last week, on the margins of the G-20 Agriculture Ministerial Meeting in Niigata, Japan, Secretary Perdue met with Japanese government officials and affirmed the importance of science-based trade rules. The new terms, which take effect immediately, allow U.S. products from all cattle, regardless of age, to enter Japan for the first time since 2003.

“This is great news for American ranchers and exporters who now have full access to the Japanese market for their high-quality, safe, wholesome, and delicious U.S. beef,” Secretary Perdue said. “We are hopeful that Japan’s decision will help...

NPPC Calls for Swift US/Japan Trade Negotiation 

The National Pork Producers Council welcomed reports that the United States and Japan will commence trade negotiations on April 15, 2019 and urged the Trump administration to expeditiously complete and deliver for ratification to Congress a trade deal that puts U.S. pork producers back on a level playing field in Japan.

“U.S. pork producers are losing market share in Japan to international competitors that have recently negotiated more favorable trade terms in our most valuable market,” said David Herring, NPPC’s president and a pork producer from Lillington, North Carolina. “We are already seeing a decline in ...

USMEF Economist Stresses Importance of Trade with Japan at USDA Outlook Forum

The importance of Japan as a trading partner for U.S. agriculture was the focus of a Feb. 22 panel discussion at the USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum in Arlington, Virginia. U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Economist Erin Borror explained that Japan is the leading value destination for both U.S. beef and U.S. pork, with 2018 exports expected to reach $2.1 billion and $1.65 billion, respectively, when year-end data is available. But Borror also cautioned that the competitive terrain in Japan has gotten steeper for U.S. red meat due to Japan’s preferential trade agreements with Australia, the European Union, Canada, New Zealand, Mexico and Chile, and this situation will worsen unless the United States secures similar access terms with Japan.

Borror noted that U.S. beef export value per head of fed slaughter averaged a record $320.72 in 2018, up 14 percent year-over-year and shattering the previous high ($300.36) set in 2014. Japan accounts for one-fourth of this total, or $82.75 per head. The ratio is similar for ...

Buyers Show Strong Enthusiasm for U.S. Lamb’s Return to Japan

On Nov. 28, the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) launched U.S. lamb’s return to the Japanese market with an educational seminar and tasting event that drew more than 200 chefs, importers, purveyors, trade media and other key food industry professionals to The Strings hotel in Tokyo.

Following the detection of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in the United States in December 2003, Japan was closed to U.S. lamb for nearly 15 years before reopening in July of this year. The USMEF event was designed to showcase the unique flavor profile and other positive attributes of U.S. lamb, introduce menu concepts featuring a variety of lamb cuts and connect suppliers with prospective customers.

“The turnout at the seminar was extremely impressive, and the enthusiasm was even more so,” said Greg Ahart, vice president of sales for Superior Farms. Ahart also serves on the American Lamb Board and the USMEF Executive Committee. “After a 15-year absence from the marketplace, seeing the amount of excitement and...

 Meat Institute Details Negotiating Objectives for U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement 

Comments affirm importance of Japanese market for U.S. meat and poultry industry growth

The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) outlined key meat and poultry industry negotiating objectives and priorities for a bilateral U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement in comments submitted today to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. The Trump Administration, in October, notified Congress of its intention to enter into trade negotiations with Japan, and subsequently requested public input.

“The U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement stands to be a boon for the U.S. meat, poultry and animal products industry...