U.S. Frozen Beef Tariff Increase Starts in Japan

Late last week, Japan announced its “safeguard” tariff on frozen U.S. beef, increasing the tariff from 38.5 percent to 50 percent. The new rate begins today, August 1, and will last through March 31, 2018. The United States beef industry says had the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement been in effect, or if the U.S. had a bilateral trade deal with Japan, the tariff increase could have been avoided. United States Meat Export Federation President and CEO Phil Seng says first-quarter U.S. sales triggered the tariff.