Australia urges Japan to further lower beef tariffs in TPP

Australia is urging Japan to further lower its tariffs on beef under the Trans-Pacific Partnership after Tokyo agreed to substantially cut them under a two-way free trade deal struck in April, negotiation sources said Tuesday.

Australia, which became the first major farming country to conclude a free trade agreement with Japan, is apparently seeking to maintain its competitiveness in the Japanese beef market against the United States, which is leading the drive behind the 12-member TPP framework.