US removes import restrictions on shell eggs from Japan

TOKYO, Oct. 17 ― The United States has lifted its import restrictions on shell eggs from Japan with requirements of temperature controls. The move comes as Tokyo has been requesting Washington since 2004 to allow shipping Japanese-grown shell eggs to the U.S. territories such as Hawaii and Guam. The Japanese agriculture ministry said on Oct. 16 that the U.S. concluded that Japan has an equivalent inspection system for shell eggs. According to the ministry, Japanese eggs need to be chilled at a temperature below 7.2℃ from 36 hours after being laid until their arrival at a U.S. destination.

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Japan’s Abe says no greater market access for US farm goods

TOKYO, Oct. 25 ― Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has reiterated that a new trade negotiation with the U.S. will not ask for greater agricultural market access than Tokyo had given in other free trade deals, including the Trade-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Abe delivered his policy speech at the outset of an extraordinary session of the parliament that started on Oct. 24. This is the first session since Abe’s reelection for a third term as leader of the governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and his cabinet reshuffle. As Japan and the U.S. are set to kick off the negotiation for a trade agreement on goods (TAG) as early as January next … Continue reading

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TPP-11 trade pact set to kick in: Tariff cuts start on Dec. 30

TOKYO, Nov. 1 ― The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) without the United States, also known as TPP-11, will come into force on Dec. 30 this year as Australia has become the sixth country to ratify the agreement, joining Japan, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand and Singapore. The entry into force “will send a strong message that the new trade rules of the 21th century, which area freer and fair, will be established and will spread to the world,” Japan’s Economy Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said at an Oct. 31 press conference. Australia’s ratification came within a day of the November 1 deadline. It was crucial because the TPP-11 agreement takes effect 60 days … Continue reading

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Japanese beef exports to Taiwan outperform pre-BSE levels

TOKYO, Oct. 15 ― Japanese wagyu beef exports to Taiwan are recording a rapid growth in the past 12 months after the neighboring Asian country lifted 16-year bans on imports of the meat from Japan in September 2017. Taiwan’s appetite for Japanese beef collapsed following the outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease, in Japan in 2001. Shipments of Japanese beef exports to Taiwan from September 2017 to August 2018 totaled 616 metric tons, with export value topping 4.1 billion yen, data from the finance ministry showed. That was 30 times higher in volume than the pre-BSE levels. Exports of Japanese beef to Taiwan stood at 19 … Continue reading

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Prices of black grapes rise as production drops amid increasing popularity of Shine Muscat

TOKYO, Oct. 21 – Wholesale prices of black grapes such as Kyoho are rising recently, with the average prices of all black varieties marking a record high this year. The price increase is attributable to the aging of farmers, as well as drops in production of black grapes, as more farmers are shifting to production of popular high-priced green grape variety Shine Muscat. “(Black grapes) have often been offered at bargain prices to consumers, but they are becoming more of a luxury item,” a market dealer said. Meanwhile, imports of black grapes are rising sharply amid shortage of domestic products. The average wholesale price of black grapes sold by seven … Continue reading

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