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Why Nebraska Wants Trump to Strike a Trade Deal With Japan

Gov. Pete Ricketts on Wednesday urged the Trump administration to negotiate a bilateral trade agreement with Japan following news that U.S. frozen beef exports to Japan have declined by 26 percent.

Gov. Pete Ricketts on Wednesday urged the Trump administration to negotiate a bilateral trade agreement with Japan following news that U.S. frozen beef exports to Japan have declined by 26 percent.

Shortly after taking office in January, President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement and Japan, which had been a trade partner in TPP, subsequently raised its tariff on frozen beef from the United States by 50 percent in July.

The sharp decline in U.S. beef exports "underscores the urgency for Congress and the Trump administration to negotiate a bilateral trade agreement with Japan to address the beef tariff rates as well as other agricultural market access issues," Ricketts said in a statement.

"A new deal is critical to growing our No. 1 commodity here in the Beef State."

Caroline Cournoyer is GOVERNING's senior web editor.
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