The U.S and Japan have reached an agreement to increase the beef safeguard trigger level under the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement. U.S. Meat Export Federation CEO Dan Halstrom says the new safeguard mechanism will allow U.S. exporters to meet Japan’s growing demand for high-quality beef and reduce the probability that Japan will impose higher tariffs in the future.

Under the new mechanism three triggers must be hit in order for Japan to implement the safeguard and impose a higher tariff.

In the past the tariff on U.S. beef going into Japan had kicked in numerous times.

To trigger higher beef duties the U.S. must exceed the original beef safeguard trigger level under the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement, they must also exceed the safeguards in the CPTPP and the total beef imports from the U.S. during the previous year.

Both governments will work to finalize the text of the agreement.