Trade Agreements Change Japan's Markets for U.S. Pork and Beef

Japanese consumers are adding more pork and, to a lesser extent, beef to their diets. The country produces roughly half the pork products it consumes and around one-third of its beef. Imports supply the rest, with the United States one of the top two suppliers for both commodities. From December 2018 to January 2021, Japan entered into four trade agreements with countries including the United States that are changing Japan’s markets for pork and beef. Trading partners now have more favorable access than they had under World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, and as a result, U.S. beef and pork exports to Japan are expected to grow over the next decade.