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Undersecretary McKinney says Japan trade mission participants ‘upbeat’

USDA Undersecretary for Trade Ted McKinney says he doesn’t know what the next steps will be for economic and trade discussions with Japan.

“I do know that the U.S., and I think, frankly, Japan as well, want very much to get into some trade discussions,” McKinney told reporters in a conference call from Japan.

McKinney, completing a Japan trade mission involving agribusinesses and state departments of agriculture, says the U.S. prefers one-on-one negotiations, while Japan would prefer the U.S. join the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

McKinney says trade mission participants tell him the trip is worth the opportunities to build new sales and contacts.

Despite recent tariff issues and the possibility of more, McKinney says the mission has been positive.

“The group,” said McKinney, “is remarkably upbeat.”