Japan beef tariff hike threatens trade relations: U.S.

Japan is being penny wise pound foolish on this one for sure!

The tariff hike is a "safeguard" mechanism to protect domestic farmers, Japan's ministry said. It is the first time it has been used since 2003.

BS, farmers here get enough subsidizes as it is. Abe is in a pinch with his polls and needs ways to bolster support, looking strong on trade, "protecting" farmers aka JA, makes him look like he is looking out for the little guy.

Don't worry about American Beef stick to Aussie Beef it's a far better product.

I guess we'll see the penalty tariff on japanese imported cars coming to light even sooner than anticipated?!

Don't worry about American Beef stick to Aussie Beef it's a far better product.

Without getting into where the better beef comes from, at least give people the choice of what they want to avoid.

Compelling argument and worth reading, but you have to leave your nationalistic leanings aside.

http://themeatguy.blogspot.jp/2013/03/grass-fed-beef-its-probably-not-what.html

The Standard American Diet (SAD) is killing more people around the world than ever before. Reducing meat consumption is the right of any country. However there's nothing like that happening here, it's more ironic benefit than an intended one. People here will still eat their meat oblivious to the science

Reducing meat consumption is the right of any country. 

Not really, it's the right of the individual, the "country" is not there to play Mommy, when it comes to the diet of the people.

Next thing you know you are going to be saying that I can't eat "such-and such" because it's against the law. Wait....that already exists, my bad.

Where is Walmart when you need it?

Abe and the LDP are suffering in the polls, approval ratings are down. They need to turn the screws to urban Japan to buy votes from rural Japan in order to hold onto power.

It's quite funny that even with a 38.5% tariff, I can get a US angus steak from Seiyu's online grocery service (owned by Walmart) for about two-thirds less than what my local grocery store charges for a similar Japanese steak. My local store also sells US angus steaks, but for the same price as their Japanese steaks.

How many people know that Japan pays the highest grocery bills of any developed country, and that the reason for these high bills is because the excess is used to buy votes to keep the ruling party in power?

Abe and the LDP are playing with fire in this case. Trump is more likely to act in such a situation than another president would. America has little to lose against Japan in a trade dispute, Japan, on the other hand, is already suffering.

It is on frozen Beef not chilled beef big difference. How many time have you purchase frozen beef. Never!!!. This frozen beef would be for process foods only. Like burgers and pre cook meals like beef noodle, Can meals. Australia have been looking at ways of filling this market and have a very process of get chill beef into Japan via Vietnam where they slaughter the beast and quickly import the chill produce with in 24 hours. This process see a lot of the beef waste go to pet food industry in Japan. Now that this tariff has been impose on frozen produce. This waste will get a better price and fill this need area.

Some people have pretty ignorant ideas about food. Beef needs to hang two weeks before being butchered.

24 hours. BAKA!

Always funny that the discussion often leads to comments mentioning the bad quality of American beef, that it is loaded with antibiotics and growth hormones and that we should eat local or Australian beef instead.

People looking for it, often detect something nasty in food products, but which would only be harmful to human health by ingesting tons of it daily. For people raising live stock it is a business. Most of these businesses won’t sell stuff hazardous to one’s health. Sure, they might wash chicken meat in chlorine to make sure you won’t ingest some nasty bacteria. But how does that compare to the the amount of chlorine we ingest through our drinking water right here in Japan?

As for growth hormones, I read once on a Japanese news site about a Japanese fellow being arrested for something. His job was not related to his arrest, but the article mentioned that he was employed in the “growth hormone for livestock” field. If they supply that stuff to sumo wrestlers or cows and chickens or only for export I don’t know, but something tells me that if growth hormones are widely used for raising live stock, Japan is not different. I for one don’t believe for one moment that all these superior Japanese cows are gaining weight by sipping sake and listening to Beethoven while being massaged till the day they switch of the music. The Japanese authorities close their borders to especially American meat products at even the hint of something not being kosher with it, but the reason is never growth hormones or antibiotics. It can be because American meat products don’t contain significant amounts of that stuff, or, using growth hormones and antibiotics when raising livestock is practiced here as well.

Does the Japanese Govt expect Yoshinoya to start making wagyu gyudon or something? USA beef and wagyu are at two very different ends of the market here. Seems more about revenue gathering than market protection.

sf2k: "The Standard American Diet (SAD) is killing more people around the world than ever before."

Yeah, because forcing them to choose marbled beef instead through will somehow suddenly change the human body and make fat safer. Your point is moot. Tariff's aren't going to change WHAT people eat, just where they get it from, and in this case, sorry, but product quality is merely nationalistic opinion. Fatty beef is NOT better for you than less fatty meat.

Anyway, we all saw this coming when Aso (I think Trump might even have fun with the name!) announced the possibility. I hope the US retaliates and Japan is forced to drop it. Protectionism helps no one except those who cannot compete, and those who cannot compete deserve to see their businesses die out -- not be rescued by government time and again for simple vote fixing.

while I very rarely support Japanese agricultural trade practices, I have too on this. If the US knew about the WTO rules on import surges and their imports to Japan went past the 17% year on year increase why are they suddenly shocked when a increase in tariff occurs. all the US needed to do was monitor its exports and keep it below the threshold and nothing would have changed. Its no different than the import restrictions US has on pork , sugar, rolled steel. US puts on massive tariffs when China Japan dump their steel into their market, why cant Japan do the same for beef!? Fair trade is a two way street, please dont reply with J auto tariff increases as over 70% of J cars sold in the US are made in the US employing 100s thousands of Americans in the process.

@yabaru if you read that article in full you would of seen a good comment on the same page which reads.

"A study by researchers at California State University in Chico examined three decades of research and found that beef from pasture-raised cows fits more closely into goals for a diet lower in saturated fat and higher in "good fats" and other beneficial nutrients."

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/03/29/grass.grain.beef.cookinglight/index.html

We are not only talking Omega 3 here: 

'Grass-fed beef is lower in calories, contains more healthy omega-3 fats, more vitamins A and E, higher levels of antioxidants, and up to seven times the beta-carotene.'

Awful news. I love a big steak as much as the next hot-blooded man, increase tariffs on all that seafood garbage instead!

Does the Japanese Govt expect Yoshinoya to start making wagyu gyudon or something? 

You dont remember do you? When Yoshinoya did not have any beef.

@wfjjapon..everyone can find whatever they want to support their own theory.

Get this, Aussie beef uses hormones, and has for over 30 years.

Strikebreaker555Today  06:57 am JST

I guess we'll see the penalty tariff on japanese imported cars coming to light even sooner than anticipated?!

Don't you think that the J-government would have considered that already? It's just a big chess game. Besides, several posters have already commented on a previous article that Japanese automakers make way more cars in the US than they import.

Get this, Aussie beef uses hormones, and has for over 30 years. less than 40% of its stock uses them, yet their quarantine practices are the strongest in the world, resulting in no major outbreaks in livestock diseases in over 40yrs , eg birdflue, pigflue, foot in mouth, madcow disease. I know a country that has had all of these in the last 10~15yrs, do I need to state it for you!?

John-san: "How many time have you purchase frozen beef. Never!!!."

Actually, MANY people by frozen beef... and keep it. Easier than buying fresh and freezing. If you buy other than at the supermarket (ie. online, through shipping), it is nearly always frozen, even for personal consumption. Fresh is much better, of course, but not always more practical.

@wfjjapon..everyone can find whatever they want to support their own theory. except my theory is based on facts done by scientific research by a respect University, your theory is from some site stated by "the meat guy" a butcher. Also on follow up nearly all of Australian/NZ cattle are free range and not kept in stalls for prolonged periods of time, cattle roam and feed on grasses / plants in nature, that what theyve evolved to do, keeping them in stalls immobile for long periods of time is unnatural and cruel.

I am surprised that the US don't transport their meat to Mexico, and ship it from there, Oh! dam i forgot DT has annoyed the Mexicans with his threat of this wall.

Tahoochi: "Don't you think that the J-government would have considered that already?"

We're talking about a government that is out of touch with reality, so no. It's the same government that supports sanctions on Russia, against Russian threats if they do, and then asks Russia not to make good on threats and "cooperate". Or the same nation that supports the US stance on Iran and freezing assets for those who buy it's oil, and the turn around and ask to be made an exception if they keep on buying the oil. THe same nation currently asking Britain to make Japan exempt on any tariffs that would result from Brexit on Japanese companies.

So, again, no. I think they will fully ask for "cooperation and understanding" from the US, and play the victim when it comes to a very natural US response to added tariffs.

aussie beef! no hormones no gm no bee!

Don't forget that Trump trashed the TPP and if he hadn't this would not be an issue. Whose fault is this? Look to Trump voters. TPP was supposed to bring these tariffs down. This is based on Trump's revenge politics due to his hatred of Obama/Hillary.

please dont reply with J auto tariff increases as over 70% of J cars sold in the US are made in the US employing 100s thousands of Americans in the process.

That would be a joke (meat vs. cars) and there are no import tariffs on cars coming into Japan anyway.

Is there a Non-Liberal out there? You folks are so sold on the NWO and reject any independent thought but yet you call yourself progressive.

Where is Walmart when you need it?

There's no Seiyu in your patch?

The Seiyu chain is 100% owned by Walmart.

http://corporate.walmart.com/our-story/our-business/international/walmart-japan

Is this not how trade wars are started?

No one knows if the 11.5% increase will be passed on to consumers in full, partially or The consumer my not see it all.

Since many of you here are breathless with how cheap US beef is, it shouldn't bother you since it will still be cheaper than Japanese beef, even if the full amount is passed on.

The hunk of meat in the photo (enough for about 3 people) will cost about 135 yen more or 45 yen person - if the whole increase is passed on.

Devoting land and water to cattle/hog/sheep etc farming, free range or not, is still way more resource-intensive than vegetal crops in terms of massive environmental degradation, inefficient land use, hurting the global poor unnecessary animal suffering and last but not least to killing humans.

@ Yubaru You dont remember do you? When Yoshinoya did not have any beef.

Not sure what point you're trying to make here. Not having USA beef basically killed Yoshinoya's profits during that time, despite introducing pork etc. They claimed not to even be able to source Aust or NZ beef as a replacement, but this tariff is across the board so they couldn't even buy Aust beef as a replacement if they wanted to.

What? Aussie beef is not subject to this 11% increase and people can still buy any beef they want.

USA do not import cars from Japan. Japanese brand name cars are left side handle cars. But US impotvseafood from JP. Crab and shrimp meat etc.

Nishikat, Shinzo Abe sat on the fence for 5 years over TPP. I hate Trump,but he doesn't own this one

They claimed not to even be able to source Aust or NZ beef as a replacement, but this tariff is across the board so they couldn't even buy Aust beef as a replacement if they wanted to.

Just goes to show that the largest beef store in Japan doesn't think that Aussie beef is good enough for their customers. Go figure huh?

This tariff is not across the board, it's only on US beef, so if they wanted to they could, but they wont. Aussie beef isnt right for yoshinoya, and they said so themselves the last time there was a shortage.

Nishikat, Shinzo Abe sat on the fence for 5 years over TPP. I hate Trump,but he doesn't own this one

After TPP withdrawal, U.S. beef farmers face big Japan tariff - (news source)

*-- "U.S. farmers had been hoping for wider access to Japan's lucrative market through a Pacific Rim trade initiative, the Trans-Pacific Partnership. But U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from that accord after taking office."*

This is all on Trump and his followers. His vengeful hatred of Hillary and Obama created this. Thanks Trump voters! Your hated Hillary and Obama so much this is the result (and so much more in the future)

but this tariff is across the board so they couldn't even buy Aust beef as a replacement if they wanted to. wrong the tariff isn't across the board, its only on US frozen beef as it went above the WTO limit on import surges, the US does the exact same thing to Japanese and Chinese steel entering its market, except they dont use the word surge they like to use the word "dumping" as its more dramatic........................ Australia is exempt because it signed a FTA with Japan a couple years ago. If Trump had signed the TPP this increase wouldn't have been allowed.

Just goes to show that the largest beef store in Japan doesn't think that Aussie beef is good enough for their customers. Go figure huh? yet Australia is the largest importer of beef into Japan, seem many people prefer quality safe product over just outright cheap prices, Australia NZ track record on disease controls over the last 40yrs speaks for itself, unlike safety food propaganda of a certain country where the facts and its track record on livestock diseases and mislabeling proves that its just that,propaganda. Go figure huh?

Is Yoshinoya really the biggest most people I know prefer Matsuya, Sukiya, Katsuya over them, their meat always looks on the cheap side and tasteless.

Is Yoshinoya really the biggest

i know Sukiya. Yoshinoya just happens to be where me and my future wife had our first dinner together.

"The Standard American Diet (SAD) is killing more people around the world than ever before."

That's a funny thing to say when life expectancies around the world are the highest they have ever been.

It's not the quality of food that causes problems in America, but the quantity. Too much of anything can be bad for you. How much is corn in America? When I last bought it there, it was 5 ears for $1. Here in Japan you can expect to pay 200 yen for a single ear, or twenty times as much. A package of cheese? I can get a package of Monterey Jack cheese (I like quesadillas) for $1.49 at Albertsons in California. I would pay 800 yen for the same amount here in Japan. Potatoes? They cost about 1/5 as much in America. A package of 10 tortillas cost 799 yen at a Japanese grocery, they cost 79 cents for 10 in America, and are often made on the spot.

The greatest threat to American health is not diet, but lack of exercise. In a country were people will drive to the end of the block to check the mail, they are not able to burn the calories they consume. Since I came to Japan, I walk more in a single day that I did in a week in America.

A package of cheese? I can get a package of Monterey Jack cheese (I like quesadillas) for $1.49 at Albertsons in California. I would pay 800 yen for the same amount here in Japan. Potatoes? They cost about 1/5 as much in America. A package of 10 tortillas cost 799 yen at a Japanese grocery, they cost 79 cents for 10 in America, and are often made on the spot.

Going to a restaurant in Japan is much cheaper than going to one in the USA. It's so funny some people complain about things in Japan like this....then decide to keep staying....and keep complaining.

The beef has become the hot topic in almost all over the world it appears in one form or other. In USA it is a war between USA and Japan and in India it is between meat eating and meat exporting and smuggling to other neighbouring countries. The time has come to think whether meat is an alternative to human hunger, is it not possible to eat meat less and more vegetarian items?

In the era of globalisation, US wants no one to shift out of USA and wants every one to manufacture in their own country to protect its trade and employment. It holds good for all the countries. If market works as per demand and supply, what is the need for bilateral trades? If globalisation is going to be the order of the day, why market is not playing its role? Why politicians tinker with their might and strength and issue warnings and threats? If trade deficit is the worry, the solution is better products and quality products is the answer. Instead of fixing prices, let there be barter system without exchange of money.

Probably crab meat will be expensive in USA. Green tea, all sea weeds. ,

Good riddance! US beef smells bad, it tastes bad, and is full of chemicals. The US has a shockingly low life expectancy and rampant obesity and mental health issues. We should assume this is because of their diet. Aussie and NZ beef is far superior in quality so switch to that and phase out US beef slowly so that the moron in the WH doesn't notice

Don't forget that Trump trashed the TPP and if he hadn't this would not be an issue. 

Yes, it would be an issue, because TPP would have allowed Japan to implement this same emergency tariff for the same reason.

Aussie and NZ beef is far superior in quality so switch to that and phase out US beef slowly so that the moron in the WH doesn't notice

I guess you didn't hear that Australians are more obese than Americans? Some 64% of Australians are obese, right? We should assume this is because of their diet, right?

The beef has become the hot topic in almost all over the world it appears in one form or other.

Yeah right. A country which has half the world's lawyers who will happily sue the pants off anyone who causes even the slightest harm to others and other's property. If you get sick eating an American hamburger in a restaurant, and are hospitalized, you can count on a very large payday. If you die, your heirs will be millionaires. If you die from eating tainted food in a Japanese restaurant, you aren't likely to get anything other than a deep apology.

Yes, it would be an issue, because TPP would have allowed Japan to implement this same emergency tariff for the same reason.

No it wouldn't. This is Japan. They don't eat large amounts of beef like in the States. Unless Japanese start becoming obese like what you see in the States -especially with higher meat diet- it would be unlikely. It's 100% Trump voters' fault.

 guess you didn't hear that Australians are more obese than Americans?

This must be one of those Trump alternative facts. the US number 19 and Australia number 31. Americans are fatter than Australians.

If you die from eating tainted food in a Japanese restaurant, you aren't likely to get anything other than a deep apology.

It's so funny that people complain about Japan like this...then they keep staying in this country that hate so much. Kind of like a battered wife who keeps coming back to her abusive husband. Who has died recently from going to a ramen shop anyway?