Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman testified before a House Committee Friday that Japan is holding up completion of the Trans Pacific Partnership Trade Deal. National Pork Producer Council’s Vice President and Counsel for International Affairs Nick Giordano says if a breakthrough is going to occur, it’ll have to be when President Obama meets with Japan’s Prime Minister on April 23.
Giordano says for TPP to work Japan must bring its tariffs to zero like every other country in the agreement. He expects the President and USTR to work vigorously to try and get an agreement completed.
Giordano says House Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp is right in saying that if Japan won’t open up market access by bringing tariffs to zero, then they should be left out of the overall agreement.
