Des Moines, Iowa — Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds left early Friday morning on a trade mission to Japan.
Reynolds says she’ll encourage more direct investment in Iowa by Japanese businesses.
Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig says meeting with overseas customers in Japan is important.
Naig says there will be a heavy focus during the trip on promoting Iowa beef and pork products.
In September, President Trump and Japan’s prime minister signed a joint statement that reduced tariffs on agricultural goods and Naig says a full “free trade” agreement with Japan may not be far off. Reynolds says what’s already been agreed to is beneficial to Iowa pork and beef producers as well as corn growers.
Japan is one of a dozen countries with Pacific Ocean borders that signed the Trans-Pacific Partnership, slashing tariffs to foster trade among the group. In early 2017, President Trump withdrew the U.S. negotiations related to the T-P-P. Representatives from Iowa commodity groups as well as people from Iowa’s business community are on the seven-day trade trip with Reynolds.
