Japan-US trade negotiations welcome and anxiety ... September 26 19:26

As a result of trade negotiations between the United States and Japan, tariffs on American beef have been reduced, and welcoming voices from restaurants and farmers are rising.

Beef tongue store welcomes voice

A chain store specializing in beef tongue, headquartered in Tomiya City, Miyagi Prefecture and operating 15 stores mainly in Sendai City, mainly uses American beef.

American beef tongue is subject to a 12.8% tariff, but if the tariffs are lowered in the future, the store expects the procurement cost to drop.

It is said that it is difficult to reduce the price of beef tongue at the store, but we want to reduce the price in the future while checking the exchange rate situation.

“No doubt it will be a tailwind for traders. Beef tongue is a Sendai specialty and loved by tourists and locals. I want to work to make the price reasonable. "

Rice farmers

In the current US-Japan trade negotiations, the current high tariffs on rice imports will be maintained, and no import quota of up to 70,000 tons will be established that does not impose tariffs agreed by TPP.

Mr. Takashi Seki (67), a farmer in Uonuma City, Niigata Prefecture, who produces Koshihikari from Uonuma, one of the nation's leading brand rices, said, “It was an unexpected development because President Trump thought he would add more than TPP. Because consumption is decreasing, it ’s ridiculous to put more rice from abroad, so I ’m relieved for the time being. ”

On the other hand, he talked about the government's agricultural policy, saying, “It shouldn't be that only rice is saved and other agricultural products are hit, so we want everyone to think carefully.”

Cherry farmer "If you make something good ..."

US-made cherries are currently subject to a customs duty of 8.5%, but as a result of trade negotiations between the United States and Japan, they were decided to be eliminated by FY2023.

Satoshi Takeda, 28, a full-time farmer in Higashine City, Yamagata Prefecture, which has the largest amount of cherries in Japan, said, “With the progress of the nuclear family and the number of people living alone,“ Let's buy American products because they are cheap. ” I think there are some customers, "he said, and was concerned about the increased consumption of American cherries.

On the other hand, Mr. Takeda said, “It may not be the case that American products will replace domestic cherries. Since Yamagata Prefecture is a kingdom of cherries, if you make something delicious and of good quality, I think the customer will respond. "

Voice of anxiety from livestock farmers

In the US-Japan trade negotiations, tariffs on American beef have been reduced, and there are growing concerns from livestock farmers in Miyagi Prefecture that imports of cheap beef will increase.

The farm in Tome City, Miyagi Prefecture produces Sendai beef, a brand of cattle, and has been working on exports to overseas markets such as Hong Kong and Singapore in anticipation of shrinking domestic markets. However, with regard to exports to the United States, although this agreement extends the scope for lower tariffs, it is difficult to immediately benefit from it.

As for the reason, Mr. Toshio Sato, director of Hidakami Ranch, said, “Because low prices are more important in the United States than in Asia, where high-quality meat is preferred, we cannot make use of the strength of domestic beef. "

On the other hand, Mr. Sato is concerned that tariffs on American beef will be reduced and imports of cheap beef will increase. I got used to it, and it ’s going to be a tough fight in the country. ”