Ag Secretary In Asia To Promote Trade

At a time of trade friction with Japan, Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman focused on the positive Tuesday in a visit to a Tokyo supermarket stocking such goods as U.S.-grown broccoli, Alaskan Dungeness crabs and Hawaiian mineral water.

The smile on his face as he toured the Daiei supermarket was understandable: Despite a number of recent high-profile battles over cars, aviation and film, agriculture is one of the bright spots in U.S.-Japan trade.

The Daiei supermarket in Himonya, a residential area of Tokyo, was brimming with American goods.

“Year in and year out, Japan has been the best single-country market for U.S. agricultural products,” Glickman said after touring the sprawling store with Daiei chairman Isao Nakauchi, whose photo appears in several promotions for American goods sold in the store.

U.S. agriculture sales to Japan grew by 4 percent last year to $14 billion and are on their way to reach $15 billion this year.

“This is a healthy, long-term partnership between U.S. food producers and Japanese consumers, and every sign points to this relationship prospering in the future,” said Glickman, standing in front of a display of Kansas beef.

There have been serious problems on the agricultural front in the past, and more are sure to crop up in the future.

It was only February when U.S.-grown apples first entered Japanese stores after years of sparring. Imports of rice remain minuscule. There also have been squabbles over imports of beef and citrus fruits.

But this trip by Glickman, confirmed as agriculture secretary in March, seems focused on emphasizing positive aspects of the relationship. His stop in Tokyo is part of a swing through Asia to promote sales of U.S. farm goods in Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and South Korea.

There is one issue this time. Glickman told reporters that he would bring up a proposed increase in pork imports in a meeting later Tuesday with his Japanese counterpart, Taichiro Okawara.