Over one hundred and forty members of the US House of Representatives urged the White House this week to pursue a Trans Pacific Partnership leaving out Japan and Canada. A letter from the House member to President Obama stated that support for the TPP would be jeopardized if negotiators do not hold Japan and Canada to the same standard as other TPP partners. The House members want Japan and Canada to provide full market access if they are to be part of a TPP deal. The National Pork Producers Council, which has criticized Japan’s position in the TPP negotiations, said it welcomed the congressional show of support for U.S. agriculture.
Japan is the fourth largest market for U.S. agriculture, which shipped $12.1 billion of products to the nation in 2013; Canada is the second largest export destination for U.S. agricultural goods, importing $21.3 billion worth in 2013