Japan, US Officials to Discuss Beef Import Safeguards
JAPAN - Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Taro Aso and US Vice President Mike Pence were set to discuss Tokyo’s recent safeguard tariff increase against US frozen beef in their economic talks on Monday in Washington.
17 October 2017
1 minute read
In August, Japan invoked the safeguard measure against frozen beef imports from some countries, including the United States, for the first time in about 14 years, raising the tariff rate from 38.5 per cent to 50 per cent.
The Japan Times reports that the measure, which has invited opposition from Washington, will remain effective until the end of March next year.
Japan’s safeguards against frozen beef imports are triggered under conditions such as when the import volume increases more than 17 per cent from a year earlier on a quarterly basis.
To avoid safeguards automatically kicking in, the Japanese government is considering establishing a mechanism through which importers themselves can curb imports by ascertaining import volumes more frequently.
TheCattleSite News Desk
