Gov. Doug Burgum released the following statement today after the Trump administration finalized a trade agreement with Japan to eliminate or reduce tariffs on an additional $7.2 billion of U.S. food and agricultural products.
More than 90 percent of U.S. food and agricultural imports into Japan will either be duty-free or receive preferential tariff access once the agreement is implemented, the White House said.
“We deeply appreciate the administration for finalizing this deal with North Dakota’s fifth-largest export market and our nation’s third-largest ag export market,” Burgum said. “Japan has nearly 127 million people in an area the size of North Dakota and South Dakota combined, and this agreement will provide greater and fairer access to that market for North Dakota producers of wheat, beef, barley, ethanol and other quality goods. Agreements like this and the pending U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement will strengthen trade with North Dakota’s top partners, create jobs and improve our economic health.”
Once implemented by Japan, the agreement with give U.S. farmers and ranchers the same advantage as other Trans-Pacific Partnership countries selling to the Japanese market.
Burgum met with Japanese leaders a year ago at the Midwest U.S.-Japan Association’s 50th annual conference in Omaha, including Japanese Ambassador to the U.S. Shinsuke J. Sugiyama, highlighting areas for investment in North Dakota. Last year marked the first year of North Dakota’s involvement in the association.