Japan is contemplating plans to cut tariff on certain amount of beef and pork imports from the US over a period of 10 years, as part of Asia-Pacific free trade deal talks with the US.
The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a free trade deal among 12 nations, which account for 40% of the world economy.
According to Nikkei business daily, Japan plans to propose the TPP quotas in which it would accept certain products including beef, pork, dairy and rice at low or no tariffs.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has committed to protect certain farm markets such as beef, pork, along with dairy, wheat and sugarcane, under the TPP.
Japan is planning to set TPP quota for beef at 500,000 tons annually, while the quota for pork will be at around 500,000 to 600,000.
Reuters Africa reported that the tariff on beef would be reduced to about 10% from the current 38.5% for more than 10 years.
However, the tariffs will be increased for imports beyond the given quota in order to protect domestic producers.
Japan imports over 760,000 tonnes of pork annually, with the US and Canada accounting for more than 60%, Nikkei said.
