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NCBA Responds to Japan Raising Tariff on U.S. Beef Imports: "Underscores Urgent

NCBA Responds to Japan Raising Tariff on U.S. Beef Imports: "Underscores Urgent Need for Bilateral Trade Agreement" WASHINGTON (July 28, 2017) - National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President Craig Uden issued the following statement in response to the announcement that the Government of Japan is triggering the safeguard tariff increase on frozen beef imports: “We're very disappointed to learn that the tariff on frozen beef imports to Japan will increase from 38.5 percent to 50 percent until April 2018. Japan is the top export market for U.S. beef in both volume and value, and anything that restricts our sales to Japan will have a negative impact on America’s ranching families and our Japanese consumers. NCBA opposes artificial barriers like these because they unfairly distort the market and punish both producers and consumers. Nobody wins in this situation. Our producers lose access, and beef becomes a lot more expensive for Japanese consumers. We hope the Trump Administration and Congress realize that this unfortunate development underscores the urgent need for a bilateral trade agreement with Japan absent the Trans-Pacific Partnership.” Background: Japan was the top export market for U.S. beef, valued at $1.5 billion in 2016. According to data compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation, first quarter U.S. beef sales to Japan increased 42 percent over 2016. In addition to the United States, the 50 percent safeguard tariff also applies to imports from Canada, New Zealand, and other countries that do not have a free trade agreement with Japan. Source: www.beefusa.org