U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue is heading to Japan and South Korea this weekend to participate in the G-20 Agriculture’s Minister’s Meeting. The trip comes on the heels of the U.S negotiating with Japan on a bilateral trade agreement that trade officials are hoping to wrap up the end of this month. South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association President Steve Ollerich is hopeful that will happen.

He says getting an agreement in place with Japan is important to regain market share the U.S. lost by not being part of the Comprehensive Trans Pacific Partnership. Ollerich says the advantage for the U.S. is that the Japanese like our beef.

Ollerich says it’s also positive the Secretary is going to South Korea as that country is another important customer for U.S. beef.

Perdue is scheduled to be in Japan and South Korea May 11 through the 15th.