Nov 10 (NHK) - The US Agriculture Department says US pork exporters to Japan will face tariff disadvantages if 11 countries reach a broad agreement on the Trans Pacific Partnership free trade deal, or TPP.
In a report released on Tuesday, the department says a broad TPP agreement without the US would likely contain tariff concessions for a wide range of pork products and give advantage to key exporters such as Mexico. The US pulled out of the trade deal in January.
It also refers to the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement. The two sides struck a broad deal in July. The report says the EPA would remove or lower tariffs on a wide range of European pork products shipped to Japan.
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue has expressed a willingness to negotiate a bilateral Free Trade Agreement with Japan.
Analysts say the US could increase pressure on Japan to open up its agriculture market.
