WASHINGTON – The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) commended the signing of a recent agreement by the United States and Japan to increase the Beef Safeguard Trigger level under the US-Japan Trade Agreement.
“The agreement signed today underscores the importance of the mutually beneficial relationship between US cattle producers and Japanese consumers, and we are hopeful that the improved safeguard will provide greater certainty for all segments of the supply chain,” said Kent Bacus, senior director of international trade and market access. “NCBA thanks Ambassador Tai for her continued efforts to reduce trade barriers and expand export opportunities for American cattle producers.”
The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) noted in the initial announcement in March that the agreement adds three-trigger mechanisms where all three prompts must be hit for Japan to implement the safeguard and impose a higher tariff.
The triggers include:
- Imports from the United States must exceed the original beef safeguard trigger level under the US-Japan Trade Agreement;
- The aggregate volume of beef imports from the United States and the original signatories of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) must exceed the CPTPP beef safeguard; and
- Imports from the United States must exceed the total amount of beef imports from the United States during the previous year
Later in its comments, the NCBA said the increase in the Beef Safeguard Trigger level would allow American producers to continue exporting high-quality beef to meet Japanese consumer demand.
NCBA said Japan is a top export market for US beef, accounting for over $2.3 billion in sales in 2021.
