Japan agreed to lift long-standing restrictions on US beef imports by opening up full access to US livestock products after more than 15 years, the head of US agriculture said in a statement on Friday, May 17.

“The new conditions, which take effect immediately, allow, for the first time since 2003, American products from all cattle, regardless of age, to be delivered to Japan,” said US Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Purdue.

The agreement resumes full trade in beef after Japan banned the import of American beef due to concerns about mad cow disease or bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) that "blew up" beef production in the United States and other countries.

“Enhanced access could increase US beef and beef products exports from the US to Japan to $ 200 million a year," the USDA said.

According to representatives from the US Department of Agriculture, an agreement was signed last week in Japan at a meeting of the Group of 20 on agriculture.

US and Japanese officials are seeking a broader trade deal, which, according to the Trump administration, could take place later this month.

Watch the video: America v China: why the trade war won't end soon. The Economist (November 2024).