At the press conference held on March 15, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga touched upon the Japan-U.S. economic dialogue that is to start this April between Japanese Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Taro Aso and U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, saying “We are most interested in constructive talks with U.S. administration so that both of the two countries can have mutual benefits by developing “win-win relationships.” The Chief Cabinet Secretary responded to remarks made on March 14 by Robert Lighthizer, the United States Trade Representative-designate nominated by U.S. Trump’s administration, which suggested that the U.S. administration will demand Japan to further liberalize its market of farm products in future … Continue reading →

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, … Continue reading →