Tariffs between Japan and the United States on pork and poultry products were eliminated at the start of April as part of the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement (USJTA).
The agreement entered its fifth year of implementation on April 1. The deal required reduction of tariffs in four annual increments beginning on April 1 of the second year, which was April 1, 2020.
The list included processed pork products, sausages, whole chickens, and bone-in, frozen chicken legs.
To benefit from the preferential tariff treatment under the USJTA, importers are required to make claims at the time of importation, and submit a declaration affirming the product origin to the Japan Customs.
While U.S. exporters may provide supplemental information, the initial declaration must come from the importer, as per the Japanese Customs requirements.
In 2022, Japan was the third highest importer of U.S. pork with 356,228 metric tons, following only Mexico and China.
