The United States
approved Japan's entry into negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, offering signs of
optimism for expanded U.S. poultry and agriculture exports.
Acting U.S. Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis said in a
statement that the U.S. and Japan have agreed on actions toward the trade talks,
but Japan's admission into the Trans-Pacific Trade negotiations still require
the approval of the other 10 nations involved in the talks.
"The U.S. chicken industry supports Japan's official
participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership process and looks forward to
negotiations continuing to move forward on a timely path to achieve an agreement
that will bode well for expanded U.S. chicken exports to Japan and other
Trans-Pacific Partnership countries," said National Chicken Council President
Mike Brown.
As a major U.S. trading partner, Japan would bolster the reach
of the Trans-Pacific Partnership for U.S. agriculture, said Bob Stallman,
president of the American Farm Bureau Federation.
"As the fourth-largest U.S.
agricultural export market, with nearly $14 billion in purchases in 2012, trade
with Japan is important to America's farmers and ranchers. Both the United
States and Japan will benefit from Japan being a Trans-Pacific Partnersip
partner, and by sharing in improved sanitary and phytosanitary standards for
agricultural trade and expanded market access with Trans-Pacific Partnership
nations," said Stallman. "The recent decision by Japan to increase access for
U.S. beef shows that Japan can act to improve market access for U.S.
agricultural products based on sound science. A
comprehensive TPP agreement that includes Japan will strengthen trade
relationships, address remaining barriers and improve the competitiveness of the
Asia/Pacific market."
If Japan's entry into the trade partnership is accepted by the
other ten nations, it would likely be able to take part in the next round of
negotiations in July.
No comments:
Post a Comment