US Agriculture Sec Perdue: US may push for quick, narrow trade deal with Japan

In an interview with Reuters late-Tuesday, the US Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue noted that the US is likely to push for a quick trade deal with Japan to gain the same access to agricultural markets as some other Japanese trade partners.

Key Quotes:

A narrow deal could be expanded later into a more comprehensive trade agreement.

“We want a quick resolution of our agricultural request here ... maybe temporarily that could then be fleshed out over longer period.”

“...one that seals down the agricultural issues that we are concerned about. I think we can get that done quickly.”

The US farmers should get the same access to Japanese markets as countries that have signed up to the Pacific trade deal.