Japan to Eliminate Beef, Pork Import Safeguards From WTO Members

Japan will officially phase out its beef imports special safeguard and pork imports safeguard from World Trade Organization member countries beginning April 1, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service report released Jan. 6. Japan said it is eliminating the safeguard because “virtually all imports” of beef and pork are now covered by trade agreements with “separate safeguard mechanisms,” but said a “special safeguard for pork will remain.”