A coalition of 75 food and agricultural organizations and companies are urging the United States and other countries in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations to welcome Japan into the trade talks.  The coalition said in a letter to President Barack Obama that the “addition of Japan to the negotiations will exponentially increase the importance of the TPP to U.S. farmers and ranchers, processors and exporters, as well as other sectors of the U.S. economy.  Furthermore, it will spur interest in the TPP among other countries in Asia and Latin America.”  Current members of the TPP are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam and the United States. Japan is the fourth-largest agricultural export market for the United States.  In 2012, U.S. food and agricultural exports to Japan totaled $13.5 billion. 

Like what you're reading? Subscribe to the National Hog Farmer Weekly Wrap Up newsletter and get the latest news delivered right to your inbox every Friday!

Coalition members signing the letter included the American Farm Bureau Federation, American Sheep Industry Association, American Soybean Association, Grocery Manufacturers Association, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Chicken Council, National Corn Growers Association, National Pork Producers Council, National Turkey Federation, North American Meat Association and the Pet Food Institute.