Under Secretary McKinney Leads Japan Trade Mission

(AgWeb) – U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted McKinney is leading a trade mission to Japan this week. He was joined by numerous U.S. business and state government leaders seeking to expand export opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products.

“Japan is already a top market for U.S. farm and food products, but there are many new opportunities still waiting to be tapped there,” McKinney said in a USDA news release. “Japan is an import-dependent economy and its 130 million consumers have a real affinity for U.S. food products because of their quality, affordability and safety.”

Japan is a top international market for U.S. farm and food products, reports USDA. Opportunities still exist for American exporters who are willing to follow the country’s strict product regulations and keep up with the latest consumer trends.

Why Japan?
Japan remains one of the most important and stable global markets for U.S. agricultural products, especially high-value goods. Japan is an import-dependent economy and the United States is already the country’s top supplier of imported food and agricultural products, enjoying a 25% market share. Japan is the United States’ fourth-largest agricultural export market overall and ranks first among U.S. export customers for beef and pork, second for corn and wheat, and third for consumer-oriented agricultural products.

Japanese consumers have high disposable incomes and an affinity for the quality, affordability, and safety of U.S. food products. Projected growth in both GDP and retail food and beverage sales means the future is bright for U.S. exports to Japan.

Participants included leaders from the local departments of agriculture of American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Wyoming, Utah, Washington and Oregon, as well as representatives from companies and organizations.