USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis Taylor led a trade mission to Japan this week with representatives from 11 state departments of agriculture, numerous farm organizations, and 40 agribusinesses looking to connect with future business partners in Japan.

“As one of the largest world economies, Japan is one of the top and most reliable trading partners for the United States. Every year for over the past two decades, Japan has imported at least $10 billion worth of U.S. food and agriculture products, reaching a record-high $14.6 billion in 2022. This shows that there is a continuously growing demand for U.S. products in Japan, providing U.S. exporters with a tremendous opportunity to expand their exporting,” said Under Secretary Taylor. “On this agribusiness trade mission, we have many incredible businesses joining this delegation to showcase the strength of U.S. food and agriculture products. Japanese consumers are especially interested in high-quality, health-oriented products, and I am confident that U.S. businesses can meet and exceed these expectations.”

Among the topics being discussed on the trade mission is ethanol, since Japan recently adopted a new biofuels policy that could allow exports of U.S. ethanol to increase by over 80 million gallons annually, representing an additional $150-200 million in exports each year. “As we globally are trying to deal with changing climate, ethanol is a key tool for many countries around the world,” said Taylor, who met with Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry during the mission, along with representatives from the U.S. Grains Council.

Taylor addressed ethanol during a press conference from Japan Thursday.
USDA Under Secretary Taylor on ethanol in Japan 1:26