WASHINGTON (AP) – American farmers have not just endured retaliatory tariffs from China and other nations. They’ve had to watch as competitors used free trade agreements to make inroads into Japan, a historically protectionist market.
Now they’re hoping the coming U.S.-Japan trade deal that President Donald Trump is showcasing will be as strong for farmers as the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which Trump ditched soon after taking office.
When Trump bailed on TPP, competitors such as Canada, Mexico and Australia forged ahead with a revamped version. The European Union also reached its own agreement with Japan.
The changes have contributed to a new trade landscape. The Agriculture Department says U.S. farm exports to Japan dropped 2% in the first six months of this year compared with the same period last year.
