US and Japanese officials may avoid trading barbs over beef at the US-Japan economic dialogue on October 16, despite Donald Trump’s preoccupation with trade deficits and a recently raised tariff in Japan.
That’s because US beef sales to Japan actually rose by more than 20% in August from a year earlier, even after Japan raised the tariff on frozen beef imports from some countries to 50% from 38.5% on August 1.
A surge in Japan’s imports of chilled and fresh beef from the US more than offset a decline in frozen beef imports.
International Trade
The higher tariff, triggered by a surge in Japan’s overall imports of frozen beef, has threatened to become an irritant in US-Japan relations. After it was announced, US Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue asked the Japanese government to address US concerns about its trade deficit with Japan.
Meanwhile Craig Uden, president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, said the group was "very disappointed," highlighting an "urgent need" for a bilateral trade agreement between the two countries.
The higher tariff, in effect until the end of March, applies to frozen beef from countries that don’t have economic partnership agreements with Japan, such as the US, but not rival exporter Australia, which does.
Yet with its total imports of US beef rising, Japan can argue that beef doesn’t warrant extra scrutiny when officials meet in Washington, and can deflect pressure from US industry organisations like Uden’s for a bilateral agreement.
Less friction over beef would be welcome news for beef-bowl restaurant Yoshinoya. More than 90% of the beef it uses comes from the US, according the company. The chain says it’s not considering any changes in prices or serving sizes.
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