The effects of the Aug. 1 tariff increase on the retail price of beef in Japan are unlikely to be felt until later this month, government and industry officials said Friday.
According to the governmental Agriculture & Livestock Industries Corp., the standard price of U.S. chilled beef stood between 703 yen and 745 yen per kg between July 28 and Aug. 1, little changed from mid-July.
However, the price was between 7 percent and 8 percent higher than earlier this year because it rose in June amid expectations of higher tariffs on beef imports.
On Aug. 1, Japan raised the tariff on fresh and chilled beef to 50 percent from 38.5 percent following a surge in beef imports in the April-June period. The higher tariff remains in effect until March.
An official of the Japan Foodservice Association, a group of restaurant operators, said the autumn-winter menu at family restaurants could be reviewed to reflect an increase in procurement costs in late September.