In the latest push to seek the removal of tariffs on American farm products, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said Saturday after meeting with his Japanese counterpart, Takamori Yoshikawa, that he is eager to reduce his country's large trade deficit with Japan.
The two met on the sidelines of a Group of 20 gathering of farm ministers in the city of Niigata. The event was chaired by Japan.
Japan and the United States began bilateral trade negotiations in mid-April, with Washington seeking to improve the competitiveness of U.S. produce at a time when Pacific free trade pact members are exporting to Japan at lower tariff rates.