The Senior Director for International Trade and Market Access for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Kent Bacus, says the recent loss of Japan?s former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is a great loss to the world. Bacus said the willingness of Prime Minister Abe to open up trade in Japan with other countries including the United States was very valuable to the U.S. beef cattle industry and its growth.
?He was really a good leader, someone who not only cared deeply about the people Japan, but really tried to bring Japan into a bigger leadership role in to help kind of steer the global economy in a positive direction,? Bacus said.
Japan had historically been a difficult market for the U.S., but Prime Minister Abe used his power to develop their economy through trade. Going back several years, Bacus said it was a pleasure working with Abe’s staff on trying to expand trade between the United States and Japan- an effort that saw a great amount of growth.
?It was my pleasure to work with his staff, trying to expand trade between the United States and Japan,? Bacus said. ?Japan is a big market for us, but it’s always been a very tough market for us. Prior to Prime Minister Abe coming into power, it was a very protectionist market. He was really the one that spearheaded trade liberalization and really pivoting Japan from being that protectionist society and growing their economy through trade.?
Now, Japan is the second-largest export market for the United States. Abe was assassinated while giving a speech earlier this month.
