Japan
U.S. and Japan meet again on TPP, outcome unclear
Japan and the United States resumed talks on the 12-nation Trans Pacific Partnership trade pact, "but the outcome of the negotiations remains unclear with political difficulties mounting for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and indications of growing opposition in the United States," says Japan Times.
Ryan says TPP could exclude Japan or Canada if necessary
The chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee says the United States should complete the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement without Japan or Canada if those nations are unwilling to reduce their trade barriers, said Agri-Pulse.
Japan is willing to reduce beef and pork tariffs, reports say
Japanese news media reported that the government would reduce its high import tariffs on beef and pork and relax slightly its restrictions on U.S. rice imports as part of the proposed 12-nation Trans Pacific Partnership trade pact, said Reuters.
Froman says “good progress” with Japan on ag and autos
The 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership for free trade could be wrapped up within months, U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman told lawmakers.
U.S. and Japan meet again on farm and automobile trade
Trade officials from Japan and the United States opened a new round of talks in Tokyo on two sticking points, agriculture and autombiles, in negotiations for the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership, said the Kyodo news service.
Ag negotiator sees “a lot of momentum” for TPP
The chief U.S. agricultural trade negotiator said there was "a lot of momentum" toward a Trans-Pacific Partnership pact after months of delays. The chief negotiators from the 12 TPP nations are in Washington this week, said Darci Vetter, of the U.S. Trade Representative's office. "We hope and think we will be closing this agreement soon." Vetter told the Farm Journal Forum that only the most sensitive products were left on the table, items that may need ministerial action.
Canada more recalcitrant than Japan on trade, says Vilsack
Canada "has not stepped up" in negotiations for the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact, said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. He singled out Ottawa when asked if Japan should be dropped from the discussions because of unwillingness to open its agricultural markets to imports. The question, during a meeting of the CFTC's agricultural advisory committee, came from Paul Penner of the National Association of Wheat Growers.
Japan election puts cloud over farm-sector reform
In a blow to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's plans for economic reform, including agriculture policy, his party's candidate for governor in heavily agricultural Saga prefecture was defeated in weekend elections.
Chief US negotiator says no TPP agreement during APEC
The chief U.S. trade official says there will be no major announcement in the next couple of days for the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership trade group, says Reuters.
US ag exports to TPP bloc up 5 percent if trade barriers fall
U.S. agricultural exports to the 12 nations involved in the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade talks would rise by 5 percent over a decade if all agricultural tariffs and tariff-rate qoutas were eliminated, says USDA's Economic Research Service.
Ignoring limits on tuna catches
A large Chinese fishing company declared in a draft document "that it intended to circumvent international conservation limits on tuna – by simply ignoring them" with little fear of discipline for it, says the Guardian.
Stymie on Japan-US issues clouds TPP hopes
A face-to-face meeting of trade ministers from Japan and the United States "failed to reach a much-awaited breakthrough, seen as vital to advancing the 12-country Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations, at a three-day meeting on the...
Reform or die out is question for Japan’s farmers
The Japanese government tries an experiment in mountainous rural Japan to re-populate a farming town, says the Washington Post.
US urges Japan to take bold steps at trade talks
President Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed by telephone to push for speedy agreement of a 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership on trade, says the Xinhua news agency.
US says “some progress” on ag access to Japan
Japanese and U.S. negotiators "continued to make some progress in narrowing the gaps on treatment of a range of agricultural products," said the U.S. trade representative's office at the end of two days of discussions.
US and Japan to meet on agriculture market access
U.S. and Japanese officials are to discuss agriculture market access issues this week in Tokyo. Market access has become a major obstacle to a Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement involving...
Higher corn, wheat, soy prices mean record U.S. farm exports
U.S. farm exports will hit a record $149.5 billion in the year ending on Sept 30, up 5 percent from the previous estimate due to higher corn, wheat and soybean prices as well as larger export tonnage, said USDA in a quarterly report. The record now is $140.9 billion, set in fiscal 2013.
U.S.-Japan talks boost odds for Pacific trade pact-Froman
There is new momentum for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade agreement among a dozen nations, as a result of last week's U.S.-Japan talks, said U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman. During a Senate Finance hearing, Froman said the talks in Tokyo "identified a path forward on agriculture and autos, two of the most challenging areas."