Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts is in Japan this week leading a trade mission. The group attended the Midwest-Japan Association Conference that alternates each year between the two countries. Ricketts says it’s imperative the U.S. get going with a bilateral trade deal with Japan and he shared that message with Japanese officials.

He says between 2015 and 2016 trade of Nebraska beef to Japan increased by 30 percent going from $ 241 million to $ 316 million. Ricketts says that also increased this year.

Ricketts says the Japanese prefer U.S. beef to Australian beef which is our closest competitor for that market.

Ricketts says Nebraska will host next year’s Midwest-Japan Association Conference.