U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer praised Japan’s legislature Wednesday for approving a trade agreement with the United States and said President Trump would sign the deal soon, likely next week.
“Now, U.S. farmers and ranchers will have significantly improved access to Japan’s market, and America’s leadership in the growing digital economy will continue to flourish to the benefit of all our workers,” Lighthizer said, noting that the U.S. and Japan represent the world’s largest and third-largest economies, respectively.
Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe signed a limited trade deal in September that cut tariffs on U.S. farm goods and Japanese machine tools and addressed concerns over digital trade, among other provisions. The White House has said the deal does not require congressional consultation since it merely adjusted existing tariff levels. Congressional Democrats have demanded details regarding the U.S.-Japan talks.
