Japan Agreement Similar to TPP
Farm Progress Japan Trade Deal 083019
The Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue holding a listening session and a press conference while at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Illinois.
One of the first questions asked was about details of the newly announced trade agreement with Japan and how it compared to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement.
"There may be a few sectors or industries that don't feel like they got back to the finish line on that but for the most part, I think it's going to be equal if not better," says Perdue. "I think certainly our livestock groups will feel good and we think it'll be a well-received agreement."
Secretary Perdue suggesting it would be similar to language in TPP although he did say some industries or groups won't get everything they want.
"These are the type of announcements that need details from USTR," says Perdue. "When you have an agreement in principle, I think they want to finish more of the details and in fact, we're still getting additional things there even as late as yesterday, that enhance the agreement."
Perdue said he'd rather get a really good agreement than announce the details quickly.
"It'll be up to the USTR when they finish and the deal is finished and then the president can announce the details," says Perdue.
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President Zippy Duvall also discussing that agreement.
"I don't have any details but the news that they've agreed on some principles, the news coming out that pork, beef and poultry is going to be excited about this, and even some grains, that's a very positive thing," says Duvall. "It replaces a big piece of what we missed in TPP so that is a huge announcement."
