On Nov. 22, the Upper House of Japan’s Diet approved the updated beef safeguard mechanism under the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement, which completes the Diet’s process to finalize the agreement.
Once in effect, the agreement will amend the beef safeguard trigger level under the agreement with a new three-trigger safeguard mechanism, according to a news release from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). This will allow U.S. exporters to meet Japan’s growing demand for high-quality beef and reduce the potential for higher tariffs in the future, the agency said.
The agreement was signed on June 2 by USTR Katherine Tai and Japan’s ambassador to the U.S., Koji Tomita. The two countries are working to finalize all domestic procedures for the agreement to go into effect.
“The Protocol will ensure our farmers and ranchers continue to have access to one of the world’s most dynamic markets,” Tai said. “We are excited that Japan’s consumers can enjoy high-quality U.S. beef that is a staple of our agricultural industry.”
