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During last week’s bilateral trade talks between the US and Japan, Japan proposed reducing tariffs on U.S. agricultural products to the current levels for TPP members.

This would have the impact helping American farmers and ranchers whose imports have become less competitive in the Japanese market compared to their Australian and Canadian counterparts who are part of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (previously known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership).

However, this reduction in agricultural tariffs would require the US to remove US import taxes on Japanese automobiles and vehicle parts.

The two countries met for two days last week but no firm agreement was reached.