09.25.19

Cantwell Statement on U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) released the following statement today on the announcement of a limited trade deal between the United States and Japan. The deal will open Japanese markets to American agricultural goods and expand access to digital trade, and the U.S. will lower tariffs on Japanese industrial goods and other products. Currently, Japan is the second largest market for Washington’s soft white wheat, importing 889,000 metric tons from the Pacific Northwest last year. 

“I am glad that the U.S. and Japan agreed to open up the Japanese market to some U.S. agricultural exports like wheat and wine and to grow digital trade. This agreement will help level the playing field in an important market for our wheat growers who were at a serious disadvantage to growers in Canada and Australia. 

The U.S. now needs to continue pushing for a comprehensive trade agreement with Japan that covers intellectual property protection and regulatory barriers. The Trump administration should also end the trade war with China and tariffs costing American families more than $1,000 a year.” 

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