Japan

Background

The National Pork Producers Council welcomed the U.S.-Japan trade agreement signed on Sept 25, 2019, by President Trump and Prime Minister Abe at a ceremony attended by NPPC President David Herring and President-Elect A.V. Roth. Herring said, “I am honored to represent U.S. pork producers today at a signing ceremony so important to my fellow hog farmers around the country.”

The agreement, once implemented, places U.S. pork producers back on a level competitive playing field in its highest value export market. U.S. pork producers are losing market share in Japan because international competitors have recently entered into trade agreements with Japan, including the European Union and those countries participating in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP minus the U.S.). According to Iowa State University Economist Dermot Hayes, U.S. pork exports to Japan will grow from $1.6 billion in 2018 to more than $2.2 billion over the next 15 years if the United States quickly gains access on par with international competitors.