Japan eyes expanded corn, soybean imports from the U.S.
Japan is signaling readiness to increase U.S. soybean and corn imports to ease trade tensions with President Trump. LDP’s Hiroshi Moriyama said expanded imports pose “no problem,” given Japan’s reliance on U.S. supplies. He cited falling U.S. exports to China and noted caution on rice imports, stressing rice’s sensitive role in Japanese agriculture and food security.
The Japanese government is signaling it is prepared to increase its imports of soybeans and corn from the United States to curry favor with President Donald Trump.
The move, Tokyo hopes, would help offset tariffs Trump imposed on automobiles, steel, aluminum and other goods made in Japan for export.
Hiroshi Moriyama, secretary-general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, said April 25 he saw “no problem” with expanded imports of U.S. corn and soybeans as Japan relies on the United States as well as other countries for those commodities.
Tokyo has been looking at ways to negotiate lower tariffs with the Trump administration.
As Moriyama is also a representative of farm and forestry lobbyists, there is a chance the idea will be taken up in negotiations.
Moriyama told reporters after a meeting with agriculture minister Taku Eto that “production in Japan is not keeping pace” with corn production.
With regard to soybeans, he said, “We may be able to cooperate by either raising the level of imports slightly or seeking applications as a clean energy source.”
He noted that U.S. exports to China are expected to decrease due to the U.S.-China trade war initiated by Trump.
During his meeting with Eto, Moriyama referred to past tough negotiations with the United States over rice.
“Rice affects everyone,” he said, indicating his cautious stance toward an expansion of rice imports.
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Source : Asahi
