Category Archives: Farm Policy

US beef imports to Japan rise 22% year-on-year in August

TOKYO, Sept. 29 — Overall beef imports from the United States rose 22% in August from a year earlier, despite Tokyo’s introduction of special safeguard (SSG) measures on frozen imports, data from the finance ministry has showed. U.S. beef imports amounted to 18,038 metric tons, the ministry said on Sept. 28. But U.S. frozen beef imports were down 26% to 4,317 metric tons in August compared with the same month a year earlier. Japan invoked the SSG on Aug. 1 to restrict frozen beef imports temporarily by raising the tariff from 38.5 percent to 50 percent, as the imports rose more than 17% year-on-year in the April-June quarter. Meanwhile, U.S. … Continue reading

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Despite scandal, imported rice demand remains high in Japan

TOKYO, Sept. 28 — Demand for imported rice to Japan has been strong, despite tightened rules on auctions following the exposing of a scandal around adjustment money been paid by importers to wholesalers last year. The first round of the so-called simultaneous buy and sell (SBS) tendering system in fiscal 2017 was held on Sept. 27. For 25,000 metric tons of rice quota, a total of 24,998 metric tons of imported rice from all origins was successfully bid during the auction. Valid bids were as high as three times in volume. Japan imports 770,000 metric tons of rice each year under a World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement. The majority goes … Continue reading

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EU experts agree to relax Fukushima-made rice restrictions

TOKYO, Sept. 27 — European food safety experts have approved the relaxation of food import restrictions from Japanese regions hit by the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011. That will likely pave the way for the European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, to allow some Japanese agriculture products, including Fukushima-made rice, to enter the bloc without radiation testing certification. On Sept. 25, the EU standing committee on food safety approved a proposal by the commission to remove radiation testing certification on some foods from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant areas, before they are granted access into European markets. Currently, food imports from the regions need to be accompanied … Continue reading

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TPP11 talks end with inching closer for a new deal without US

TOKYO, Sept.23 — The 11 members of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) have made some progress by narrowing down the list of provisions that will be put on ice until the United States returns to the TPP. Senior trade officials met in Tokyo to discuss what provisions of the deal to be shelved at a two-day meeting that ended Sept. 22. In the meeting, they agreed to cut back the number of shelved provisions in rule-making areas to about 50, down from some 70, informed sources said. At the previous meeting in Sydney in August, they agreed to shelve a provision for drug monopoly protection period in the chapter for intellectual … Continue reading

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Japan’s food event in Sydney offers taste of regional specialty

TOKYO, Sept. 24 — The Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), a governmental export agency, has organized a promotional event for Japanese foods in Sydney, aiming at matchmaking Japanese producers with Australian buyers. Baked sweet potatoes, various sake and other products of 20 Japanese food companies were showcased for tasting, according to the JETRO, a subsidiary of Japan’s trade ministry. The event drew about 80 commercial buyers, distributors and restaurants in Australia’s capital. The objective is to make Japanese food producers and farmers — located mostly in rural areas — have access to marketing and distribution channels of foreign buyers. But the event caters not just to Japanese producers, but also … Continue reading

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