Japan Considers Importing More U.S. Soybeans, Corn

Japan’s leaders are wracking their brains over what to offer in trade talks with Washington, with views emerging in the government and the main ruling party that there is scope to import more U.S. soybeans and corn.

U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this month unveiled massive tariffs on countries he believes are unfairly trading with the United States. He later announced a 90-day pause, and Japan is now racing to strike a deal.

The talks are likely to focus on agricultural products.

Japan is considering importing more U.S. corn for livestock feed and as bioethanol.

Liberal Democratic Party Secretary-General Moriyama Hiroshi, who has a keen understanding of agricultural policy, spoke to reporters on Friday.

Buying more U.S. corn would not be a problem, he said, and most of its imports already come from the U.S. and Brazil.

Moriyama said Japan could also slightly increase its imports of U.S. soybeans.

Some government officials have a similar view, pointing out that U.S. soybean exports to China are likely to fall if trade tensions between the two countries intensify.

However, there are concerns about importing more U.S. rice and the possible impact on Japan’s domestic industry.

Tags: corn, soybean, USA, Japan