Tag Archives: News

【News】 Japanese beef to be exported to Europe in May (April 29, 2014)

  Senior Staff Writer,  Masaru Yamada Japanese beef is set to be exported to European Union nations for the first time as early as in May. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has informed the EU that it approved two meat processing facilities in the nation which meet hygiene standards for exporting, and requested the EU to allow beef imports from Japan. To prepare for the shipment of Japanese beef to the European market, the Japan External Trade Organization plans to hold a business meeting for buyers in Paris and London in June. Although Wagyu beef produced outside of Japan is already marketed in European countries, people “have strong … Continue reading

Posted in Food & Agriculture | Tagged | Comments Off on 【News】 Japanese beef to be exported to Europe in May (April 29, 2014)

【News】 Japan-Australia EPA can be revised if Japan agrees on lower tariffs for U.S. farm products (April 25, 2014)

  Masaru Yamada The Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement, which was concluded in principle on Monday, April 7, includes clauses which allow the two nations to revise the agreement if Japan decides to offer lower tariffs on agricultural products from other countries such as the United States, it was learned Thursday, April 24. The existence of such clauses indicates the possibility that if Japan makes big compromises in the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations with the U.S., Australia will urge Japan to revise the EPA to further lower tariffs. According to government officials of the two countries, the EPA “does not include specific most-favored-nation provisions on goods.” However, the agreement say there “are … Continue reading

Posted in Trade Talks | Tagged | Comments Off on 【News】 Japan-Australia EPA can be revised if Japan agrees on lower tariffs for U.S. farm products (April 25, 2014)

【News】 National Agriculture and Food Research Organization to evaluate risk factors in walking tractor-related fatalities (April 24, 2014)

  National Agriculture and Food Research Organization will set on a three-year survey in fiscal 2014 to analyze risk factors behind deaths due to walking tractor accidents, in an effort to come up with safety measures. Walking tractors come in various sizes and structures, and are used in various situations including tilling, ploughing and hilling. The organization will analyze different causes of accidents, such as shifting into wrong gear, tractor overturning or handlebars suddenly jumping up. Walking tractor-related fatalities occupy only a little more than 10 percent of total agricultural work-related deaths, but they occupy nearly 20 percent of all agricultural machinery-related fatalities, the largest percentage next to deaths related … Continue reading

Posted in Food & Agriculture | Tagged | Comments Off on 【News】 National Agriculture and Food Research Organization to evaluate risk factors in walking tractor-related fatalities (April 24, 2014)

【News】 U.S. urges Japan to set minimum import target for autos under TPP (April 21, 2014)

  The United States is demanding that Japan set a yearly import target for American cars in the bilateral negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks, it was learned Sunday. Sources close to the negotiations disclosed that the U.S. wants to introduce a system that would allow it to delay phase out of tariffs on Japanese automobiles by the number of years in which Japanese imports of U.S. autos fall below the target. This means unless Japan continues to import certain amount of U.S.-made automobiles every year, U.S. tariffs on Japanese cars will be maintained almost indefinitely. According to the sources, Japan has strongly rejected such requests, saying it cannot … Continue reading

Posted in Trade Talks | Tagged | Comments Off on 【News】 U.S. urges Japan to set minimum import target for autos under TPP (April 21, 2014)

【News】 Japan and Australia agrees on low-tariff import quota for meat products (April 18, 2014)

  The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries disclosed details of the Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement on Thursday, April 17, including setting low-tariff import quota for key meat products to prevent the domestic industry from being damaged by a sharp rise in imports. But many worry that the agreement will result in influx of low-price Australian products, pressuring prices of domestic produce to decline. The ministry, which has already revealed details of the agreement concerning beef and cheese which are items of special interest, disclosed this time specific rules regarding seven sectors – beef offal and prepared products, pork, poultry, chicken eggs, dairy products, honey and livestock. An import quota … Continue reading

Posted in Food & Agriculture, Trade Talks | Tagged | Comments Off on 【News】 Japan and Australia agrees on low-tariff import quota for meat products (April 18, 2014)