In cold blow to US, Japan ups tariffs on frozen beef imports
TOKYO — In unwelcome news for American farmers, Japan said Friday that it was imposing emergency tariffs of 50 per cent on imports of frozen beef, mainly from the U.S.
Finance Minister Taro Aso announced the move Friday, saying he was prepared to explain the decision to the U.S. side.
“The tariff will take effect automatically as the volume of the imported US frozen beef exceeded the quota set by law,” Aso said, “So this is what has to be done.”
Japan’s beef farmers are famed for their luscious marbled Kobe beef and other delicacies, and the government has long used tariffs and other measures to protect its farmers from foreign competition. Still, prices for imported beef tend to be half or less those for beef from domestically-raised cattle.