Japan’s agriculture exports rise in January, led by wagyu beef

TOKYO, March 10 — Japan’s agricultural exports jumped 35% year-on-year in January, led by sales of wagyu beef to major exporting markets and fruits as treats for the Chinese New Year holidays. The exports of products such as agri-food, meat and seafood totaled 62.4 billion yen in January, according to data from the agriculture ministry. Wagyu beef exports doubled to 1.5 billion yen due to rising demand in the U.S. as well as Taiwan lifting a 16-year import ban. Apples exports also rose 70% to 3.2 billion yen, as fruit production has recovered from bad weather. Rice exports grew 32% and pork exports surged 52% in the same month from … Continue reading

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Japan’s PM Abe not open to renegotiating TTP in favor of US

TOKYO, March 15 — Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has made it clear that he is not open to renegotiation that would shift the balance of benefits further in favor of the U.S. in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). “The TPP-11 deal is a delicate piece of glass work,” Abe told the upper house budget committee on March 14. When he was asked to comment on the possibility of renegotiating the TPP to bring the U.S. back in, Abe said: “I do not agree to any deal that is not in the nation’s best interests.” In January, U.S. President Donald Trump said that he might consider rejoining the trade pact, if … Continue reading

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A miller develops Japanese flour for Italian pizza margharita

TOKYO, March 8 — A Japanese milling company has developed domestically-produced wheat flour used to make pizza napoletana, commonly known outside Italy as a pizza margherita. Ebetsu flour milling Co. is now seeking certification for its new product from an Italian organization to be considered as flour for authentic pizza napoletana. “We want to contribute for expanding use of domestically produced wheat,” said Ebetsu President Toshiyuki Abiko. “Just knowing that we’re part of it makes us proud.” Japan is one of the largest wheat importing countries, and domestic production only accounts for about 10 percent of its total what supply. Pizza napoletana was given the protected status of a traditional … Continue reading

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Japan to retain safeguard mechanism to non-TPP11 members

TOKYO, March 14 — Japan will maintain its safeguard mechanism in the event of a sharp rise in beef imports to non-members of the revised Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), such as the United States. The decision came as U.S. President Donald Trump pulled his country out of the trade deal during his first week in office last year. In the original TPP, Tokyo made key concessions by agreeing to abolish a World Trade Organization (WTO) safeguard mechanism and create a new one, as original TPP members including the U.S. were the major beef suppliers to Japan. The WTO safeguard mechanism will still be administered for countries that do not have free … Continue reading

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Japan has 33 fatal accidents involving farm vehicles each year

TOKYO, Feb. 27 — A total of 164 farmers died in accidents that involved farm vehicles such as tractors on public roads between 2013 and 2017 in Japan, with elderly farmers most at risk group, according to a report by the police department. On average, around 33 fatal on-road accidents involved farm vehicles occur each year. Of those, 90 percent of fatalities were people aged over 60, and 80 percent of accident patterns were single-vehicle crashes, the report said. There was a sharp rise of accidents in April, May and September, as farm vehicles had to travel on rural roads during planting and harvest time, it added. Finding support for … Continue reading

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