January 16, 2012

ASA urges government to allow Japan into trans-pacific partnership talks

A number of industry groups, along with the American Soybean Association (ASA) last week urged the Obama administration to let Japan enter the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations while they are ongoing.

In a January 10 public submission addressed to Deputy Assistant US Trade Representative for Japan Michael Beeman, ASA said it "supports Japan's participation in the Tran-Pacific Partnership negotiations."

It urged the administration "to work with the Japanese government and with other TPP participants to take the steps necessary to ensure this can happen without any undue delays in the ongoing talks." The submission was sent to the administration after the Office of the US Trade Representative asked for comments on possible new entrants.

The comments appear to signal a step forward for ASA, which as recently as last month declined to take a position on Japan's potential entry into the talks because of fears about possible adverse effects on soy meal exports. ASA did not sign a letter supporting Japan joining TPP sent by other US agriculture groups.

But ASA appears to have made calculations finding that Japan's joining would ultimately be beneficial. In its submission this week, it argues that increased beef market access in Japan would indirectly benefit US soy growers.

"In a sense, we would be exporting more soy to Japan, but in the form of meats and dairy products and those sales would benefit both soy producers and our US livestock industry customers," ASA wrote.