【Editorial】 Don’t relax rules on WTO safeguard for farm goods(Aug. 2)

Japan’s Finance Minister Taro Aso has suggested that Tokyo may relax the rules on a special safeguard (SSG), after a surge in frozen beef imports automatically triggered the trade remedy that limits the imports for the first time in 14 years. “Some say it could prolong the timeframe of application for safeguard measure. Surely there’d be some room to revisit procedural requirements,” Aso told reporters on Aug. 01, the day the SSG took effect. This issue, as he said, is to be taken up at the U.S.-Japan Economic Dialogue, which is slated for October in Washington. Aso’s comments are the latest indication that the Japanese government’s position is flexible to … Continue reading

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“JA Yaeyama” young cattle vessel carrying calves from island to island (in Yaeyama Islands, Okinawa Prefecture)

OKINAWA, July 30 ― A boat owned by an agricultural cooperative in Okinawa (JA Okinawa) is playing an important role in Yaeyama islands, which are 400 km away from the main island of Okinawa and at the southwest end of Japan. The vessel is exclusively designed for moving young cattle from an island to an island to deliver the calves produced by farmers on small islands to Ishigakijima Island. The calves will be then transported to the mainland of Japan. The ship has been in service for more than 40 years since the first JA boat was introduced. A little past noon on July 13, 2017, the vessel “JA Yaeyama” … Continue reading

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WTO safeguard mechanism draws fire from US meat exporters

TOKYO, July 29 — U.S. meat exporters have said Japan’s safeguard on frozen beef imports from the U.S. and other countries is not governed by free trade agreements (FTAs) with Tokyo, and called for action to change the situation that dragged Washington into the trade remedy under the World Trade Organization (WTO). The U.S. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President Craig Uden said July 28 in a statement, “NCBA opposes artificial barriers like these because they unfairly distort the market and punish both producers and consumers. “We hope the Trump Administration and Congress realize that this unfortunate development underscores the urgent need for a bilateral trade agreement with Japan absent … Continue reading

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Japanese traders not troubled by frozen beef import safeguard

TOKYO, July 28 — Japanese trading companies have said the impact of the frozen beef import safeguard would be limited, partly because they built up U.S. frozen beef inventories. They had anticipated the triggering of the safeguard due to strong beef imports in recent months. The data by the finance ministry shows that Japan’s frozen beef imports rose 15% in January-May this year from the same period a year ago, with an 18 % surge in U.S. imports, while Australian imports showed a 9 percent increase. From Aug. 01, Japan was to raise the tariff to 50 percent from its bound tariff of 38.5 percent, which Tokyo is tied to … Continue reading

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‘Nishio Matcha’ granted first trademark in overseas tea market

NISHIO, July 30 — Nishio Matcha, finely ground Japanese green tea, has been granted a trademark for the brand name by Taiwan, its first overseas registration at a time when fake matcha has been on the rise in markets across Asia and in the United States. The trademark registration aims to help the traditional product from central Japan attract new markets seeking high-quality and healthy foods. With its health benefits, matcha has been popular and used in everything including lattes, cupcakes and ice cream. The brand logo illustrates a green deep tea bowl and a bamboo tea whisk, with English letters saying “Nishio Matcha.” The Nishio Tea Cooperative, a group … Continue reading

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