Emergency statement: We are firmly opposed to the selling off of agriculture and food in Japan-US trade negotiations
Japan Consumers’ Association - 2 May 2025
Emergency statement: We are firmly opposed to the selling off of agriculture and food in Japan-US trade negotiations
Negotiations between Japan and the United States are underway in response to the Trump administration’s demand for additional tariffs. To begin with, these demands for additional tariffs have no justification. Instead of accepting unreasonable demands, we should work together with other countries to ask the United States to change its policies. Trying to outdo other countries and get better conditions for ourselves will only lead to a loss of international credibility. Furthermore, these low-key negotiations cannot be considered discussions between nations on an equal footing, and will only force greater concessions.
We are very concerned that in these negotiations, in exchange for securing exports of industrial products, there will be a significant expansion of agricultural and livestock imports and a significant relaxation of non-tariff barriers to standards related to food safety, etc. These items are listed in the trade agreement program issued by the U.S. government.
The United States has long been asking Japan to increase imports of rice, beef, and other agricultural and livestock products, and the trade agreement program includes many other agricultural and livestock products. Rice is our staple food and a self-sufficient grain. Instead of increasing imports, we should aim to increase domestic production. Importing large quantities of wheat and soybeans, which have low self-sufficiency rates, and beef and pork, which are products of the exhausted livestock industry, will deal a devastating blow to domestic production. Protecting domestic agriculture without importing large quantities of beef and other foods should be considered a top priority.
The trade agreement program calls for the easing of post-harvest pesticide regulations, pesticide residue standards, and BSE-related import conditions. Food safety should never be sold off for the export of industrial products.
We strongly urge the government to ensure that negotiations with the United States do not undermine Japan’s agriculture and food safety.
May 2, 2025
Organization calling for action
Japan Consumers Federation
Listed in order of support) No GMOs! Campaign
Committee against Irradiated Foods
Japan Organic Agriculture Research Association Association to Protect
Food and Agriculture, Tokushima
Biodiversity Information Box
Family Nutrition Research Association
National Federation of Farmers Movements
Food Policy Center Vision 21
Food Labeling Issues Network
Citizen Network to Consider Biodiversity from Food and Agriculture Citizens’
Committee for Food Safety and Surveillance
All Japan Farmers Union Federation Housewife Federation Shikoku Consumers’
Cooperative Society
Ai Cooperative
Society Miyagi Osaka
Consumers’ Cooperative Society Natural Cooperative Society Project for Moms Who
Want to Change Their Food Association
to Protect Seed and Food Safety in Kyoto (Preparatory Committee)
Femin Women’s Democratic Club
Natural Cooperative Society Nara Ichinomiya Consumers’ Cooperative Society Ichoice
Consumers
’ Cooperative Society Gifu Ichoice
Consumers’ Cooperative Society Aichi Consumers
’ Cooperative Society
Natural Natural Group Hyogo Consumers
’ Cooperative Society Natural Cooperative Society Association
to Protect Seeds in Japan
