Vilsack to Promote U.S. Agricultural Exports to Japan
| Tuesday, March 16, 2010
On his April 5-9 trip to Japan, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack will promote U.S. agricultural exports, as part of President Obama's efforts to expand U.S. exports. Vilsack will meet with Japanese Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Hirotaka Akamatsu, as well as U.S. exporters and Japanese importers.
"We are determined to increase export opportunities for our farmers and ranchers," says Vilsack. "My mission will be to continue to push hard to open markets and to bolster an open, rules-based international trading system that will benefit both consumers and our farmers and ranchers, who supply agricultural products around the world."
In his State of the Union address, President Obama announced a National Export Initiative to coordinate federal efforts to help rebuild the economy by increasing export opportunities. The initiative's goal is to double all U.S. exports in the next five years. The new strategy will improve collaboration among USDA agencies and guide priorities for international staffing, foreign assistance and agricultural research.
Among his many duties, Vilsack will give keynote address on April 7 at a Global Food Security Symposium sponsored by the U.S. Grains Council, and meet with students at the University of Tokyo.
On April 8, Vilsack will travel to Yamanashi to help commemorate the 50th anniversary of a 1959 'hog lift' when Iowa farmers sent 36 hogs to Yamanashi after Japan suffered major livestock losses caused by two typhoons. Three years later, the original 36 hogs had multiplied to more than 500. Iowa and Yamanashi established a sister-state relationship after the 'hog lift.' A delegation from Iowa will accompany Vilsack to Yamanashi.
"The 'hog lift' symbolizes the start off a flourishing agricultural relationship," Vilsack notes. "For more than 50 years, U.S. grains and soybeans producers have worked with Japanese importers to develop strong and reliable markets that have benefited producers and consumers alike."
Japan is the United States' third largest export market with sales of more than $11 billion in FY2009. It is the No. 1 market for U.S. pork. The top five U.S. agricultural commodities shipped there are coarse grains, red meats, soybeans, feeds and fodders, and processed fruits and vegetables.
You can follow updates on Vilsack's trip to Japan.
Source: USDA
