July 31, 2017

US beef industry 'disappointed' after Japan hikes tariff on frozen beef imports

American beef producers expressed disappointment over Japan's announcement that it is increasing the tariff on frozen beef imports from the US to 50% for a period of eight months starting August 2017.

"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 [March 31]", the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) president, Craig Uden, said in a statement.

The 50% tariff also applies to frozen beef imports from Canada, New Zealand, and other countries that do not have a free trade agreement with Japan.

As Japan is the top export market for US beef in both volume and value, Uden said that "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", Uden added.

Uden said said that while US producers lose access, beef becomes a lot more expensive for Japanese consumers".

He urged the Trump administration and Congress to forge a bilateral trade agreement with Japan in the absence of the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Last year Japan emerged as the top export market for US beef, valued at $1.5 billion. According to data compiled by the US Meat Export Federation, first-quarter US beef sales to Japan increased 42% year-on-year.