President Donald Trump has notified Congress he will sign a trade agreement with Japan as talks wrap up yet this month. Nebraska Cattlemen Association President Mike Drinnen says that deal couldn’t be timelier for the nation’s cattle producers. Having the 38.5-percent tariff on U.S. beef imports drop to levels in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership keeps the U.S. competitive with leading global exporters already in the pact.
Last year, U.S. agricultural exports to Japan including beef, corn, pork, soybeans and wheat totaled $13 billion. Drinnen says this new agreement has the potential to increase that even more.
He says the fact the Japan agreement goes into effect immediately when President Trump signs it is great news for America’s ranchers and farmers.
The White House published the notice on the trade agreement signing intention this week.
