Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan, Yuji Yamamoto, told the press after the Cabinet meeting on March 14 that U.S. government’s latest criticism against Japanese trade policies are hardly acceptable, saying “Agricultural trade practices and farm support policies of Japan are both consistent with the Agreement of the World Trade Organization (WTO).”
Agricultural Minister Yuji Yamamoto made the comment responding to a statement presented by a U.S. representative at the latest WTO meeting that accused Japan of maintaining high import tariffs for farm products as well as heavy subsidies for agriculture.
At WTO’s review meeting on the trade policies and practices of Japan held on March 9, Geneva, U.S. administration submitted its statement, pointing out that Japanese agriculture remains highly protected with some of the highest import tariffs.
Minister Yamamoto also told the press that Japanese farm policies supporting reproduction with tariffs and domestic measures do not deserve the U.S. criticism.
The Minister added that the latest statement of the United States did not seem to exert new pressure on Japan for further opening our market of farm products, saying “The statement presented at the WTO meeting this month has wordings almost similar with those of the statement submitted two years ago.”