There’s increased urgency for U.S. trade officials to complete a bilateral trade deal with Japan. That’s because this week, Canada and Australia are set to ratify the Comprehensive and Progressive Trade Agreement or TPP without the United States. Japan, Mexico, Singapore and New Zealand have already signed onto it. Minnesota Cattlemen’s Association President Krist Wollum says without a deal with Japan, tariffs on U.S. frozen beef will remain at 38.5 percent.

He says the U.S. needs to cut a deal with Japan as soon as possible.

Wollum thinks the U.S. should be able to build on other trade deals, including the successful completion of the USMCA.

Earlier the Trump administration announced that once the USMCA was done, their focus would turn to trade deals with Japan and the European Union.