Category Archives: Farm Policy

The burden of market liberalization – loss on sales of “minimum access” rice imports squeezing agricultural budget

TOKYO, Sept. 17 – “Even if the domestic agricultural market is liberalized, the nation can survive with strong agriculture.” “Japan liberalized its rice market 25 years ago, but that did not affect domestic supply and demand.” – These are the excuses the government gives as it creates new free trade agreements one after another. However, the actual impact of rice market liberalization has been deep and long-standing. In fiscal 2015, 50.5 billion yen of tax money, a record high amount, was used to cover the loss on sales of so-called “minimum access” rice, rice imported under an annual tariff-free quota. Forcible market liberalization is putting pressure on agricultural budgets and … Continue reading

Posted in Farm Policy, Food & Agriculture | Comments Off on The burden of market liberalization – loss on sales of “minimum access” rice imports squeezing agricultural budget

Japan pushing for fresh TPP deal without US by November

TOKYO, Sept. 14 — Japan has been pushing for expedited trade talks with the 11 members of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) in meetings with their ambassadors in Tokyo to complete a fresh agreement by November that would bring into force without the United States. Yet, it is unclear if the TPP could be totally salvaged in the next two months, as there is still a lot remaining, informed sources said. Japan’s TPP Minister Toshimitsu Motegi met with ambassadors from 11 members, such as Vietnam and Malaysia, on Sept. 13. He asked them to narrow down the list of issues that will be on ice until the U.S. returns to the … Continue reading

Posted in Farm Policy, Trade Talks | Comments Off on Japan pushing for fresh TPP deal without US by November

Taiwan lifts ban on Japanese beef import, Japan’s Farm Ministry shows expectation for early resumption

TOKYO, Sept. 20 — As of September 18, 2017, the Taiwanese government has lifted a ban on beef imports from Japan and ended the 16-year-old restriction imposed in 2001 following an outbreak of BSE or mad cow disease in Japan. The beef from Japan must come from cattle under 30 months old, according to the authorities, but the conditional deregulation is likely to add a new momentum to the growth of Japanese beef export, considering beef consumption in Taiwan is growing and dishes using Japanese beef is getting more popular among Taiwanese tourists to Japan. Japan still has to wait for the Taiwan government’s approvals for its export facilities, and … Continue reading

Posted in Farm Policy, Food & Agriculture | Comments Off on Taiwan lifts ban on Japanese beef import, Japan’s Farm Ministry shows expectation for early resumption

US ambassador urges Japan to review frozen beef safeguard

TOKYO, Sept. 13 — A top U.S. official has urged Japan to review the special safeguard (SSG) measure that Tokyo imposed on frozen beef imports in August. “I strongly raised the issue,” U.S. Ambassador William Hagerty told reporters in Tokyo after meeting Japanese Agriculture Minister Ken Saito on Sept. 12. The U.S. and Australia account for nearly 90 percent of Japan’s frozen beef imports, but the measure affects only the U.S. because it doesn’t have a free trade agreement with Japan. U.S. officials and meat exporters have criticized the trade remedy as an artificial barrier, and the issue is likely to be taken up at a second round of the … Continue reading

Posted in Farm Policy, Trade Talks | Comments Off on US ambassador urges Japan to review frozen beef safeguard

Japan to boost support additive/pesticide registers overseas

TOKYO, Sept. 8 — Japan’s agriculture ministry will boost financial assistance to help food producers, who use pesticides and food additives that are not regulated in foreign markets, to prove their products are safe through their own private risk assessment. The agriculture ministry is now seeking to triple the budget to 600 million yen in the fiscal year beginning next April. It aims to accelerate Japanese food exporters’ registration for their pesticides and food additives overseas so that they have access to foreign markets. The budget request comes as Japan has set a target to boost the annual value of agricultural exports to 1 trillion yen by 2020. Japanese food … Continue reading

Posted in Farm Policy | Comments Off on Japan to boost support additive/pesticide registers overseas