Farming at Risk After Two Storms Slam Northern Japan; No Expected Impact from Recent Tsunami

Two tropical storms struck northern Japan in quick succession this July, marking an unusually early and intense start to the region’s storm season and raising concerns about disruptions to agricultural production, aquaculture, and regional logistics.  

Tropical Storm Nari, which formed over the North Pacific Ocean on July 11, intensified to tropical storm status by July 13, with wind speeds reaching up to 60 mph. The storm made landfall near the southern tip of Hokkaido on July 14

Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #20

Expana’s global team of specialist reporters has been tracking every twist and turn in the fluid tariff situation.

Click to read: "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #20."

This report allows the Expana community to see where key commodity markets stand as of this past week... Click the above PDF report, or keep scrolling to read in plain text.

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As of July 27, the United States and the European Union reached a trade agreement: The US will charge a 15% tariff on all imports across-the-board from the coalition of countries...

US-EU Trade Announcement: Markets Open to American Food and Beverage Producers

As of July 27, the United States and the European Union reached a trade agreement: The US will charge a 15% tariff on all imports across-the-board (including sector-specific rates like those on autos) from the coalition of countries, according to a joint announcement between US President Trump and European Commission President von der Leyen. 

The trade deal will contain agreements whereby the EU will purchase $750 billion in energy from the US, invest an additional $600 billion into the US, open markets to...

Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #19 

Expana’s global team of specialist reporters has been tracking every twist and turn in the fluid tariff situation.

Click to read "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #19."

This report allows the Expana community to see where key commodity markets stand as of this past week... Click the above PDF report, or keep scrolling to read in plain text.

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Trump Signs Landmark US-Japan Trade Deal, Slashes Tariffs to 15%

United States President Donald Trump announced this week that he had signed what he described as “perhaps the largest deal ever made” with Japan, aimed at reshaping trade relations between the two countries. The agreement sets a new 15% tariff rate on all Japanese products imported into the US, a notable decrease from the 25% rate imposed earlier this month, as Expana reported.

According to President Trump, the deal is expected to create hundreds of jobs in the United States and will require Japan to open its markets further...

Trump Letters Reveal August 1 Tariff Rates for Key US Trading Partners

The Trump administration was busy after the Fourth of July holiday, as the President sent out a litany of letters to US trading partners revealing what their tariff rate would be starting on August 1.

Over the weekend, President Donald Trump and members of the administration announced that letters would begin rolling out showcasing new tariff rates for countries. The letters came at a rapid pace on Monday afternoon, with messages dispatched to the leaders of Japan, South Korea and South Africa, to name a few...

Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #17

Expana’s global team of specialist reporters has been tracking every twist and turn in the fluid tariff situation.

Click to read "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #17."

This report allows the Expana community to see where key commodity markets stand as of this past week... Click the above PDF report, or keep scrolling to read in plain text...

This week, reciprocal tariffs were re-announced in the form of letters from the US Trump administration to trading partners who could not reach a trade deal within the previously granted 90-day pause...

US to Impose 25% Tariff on Japanese and Korean Imports Starting August 1

President Donald Trump's tariff letters are being rolled out, with Korea and Japan at the forefront. In identical letters released on July 7, the administration announced that both countries will face a 25% tariff on all goods imported into the United States, effective August 1.

In identical letters sent to the leaders of both countries, Trump declared that the US would impose the tariffs “on any and all Korean (Japanese) products sent into the US,” including goods transshipped through third countries in an attempt to bypass the...

ANALYSIS: Japan’s May 2025 Beef Imports Recede from 12-Month High

Japan’s beef imports in May 2025 eased from April’s 12-month high, slipping to 48,428 metric tons (mt), according to the latest data from Japan’s Trade Statistics. 

In line with traditional trends, volumes by the world’s second largest beef importer scaled back 8.8% month-on-month (MoM) or 4,696 mt amid the short working month during the Golden Week holiday period.

Japan imported beef from two main suppliers: Australia ranked first with 25,216 mt, followed by the United States (US) at 16,591 mt...

Japan, Brazil Negotiate Brazilian Beef Exports to Japan

Japanese auditors from the country’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) visited Brazil over June 9-13, Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture (MAPA) said. The visit is part of the risk analysis process conducted by the Japanese government, as part of the negotiations for opening the Japanese market to Brazilian beef.

Japanese officials visited the states of Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul, and Paraná. The visit ended with a meeting at the Superintendence of Agriculture and Livestock in Curitiba (SFA-PR) headquarters, where Brazil presented additional information on...

Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #7

Expana’s global team of specialist reporters has been tracking every twist and turn in the fluid tariff situation.

Click to read "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #7."

This report allows the Expana community to see where key commodity markets stand as of this past week... Click the above PDF report, or keep scrolling to read in plain text...

Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #5

Expana’s global team of specialist reporters has been tracking every twist and turn in the fluid tariff situation.

Click to read "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #5."

This report allows the Expana community to see where key commodity markets stand as of this past week... Click the above PDF report, or keep scrolling to read in plain text...

Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #4

Expana’s global team of specialist reporters has been tracking every twist and turn in the fluid tariff situation.

Click to read "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #4."

This report allows the Expana community to see where key commodity markets stand as of this past week... Click the above PDF report, or keep scrolling to read in plain text...

ANALYSIS: Tourism Boom Aids Japan's 2024 Total Beef Imports to Rise 4.4% Y-o-Y Despite Weak Yen

Japan’s 2024 total beef imports rose 4.4% year-on-year to 526,166 metric tons (mt), according to the latest statistics by Trade Statistics of Japan.

As the world’s third-biggest beef importer, inbound tonnage was 22,227 mt higher compared to the previous year, aided by its tourism boom. Higher volumes from Australia, New Zealand and Uruguay supported this growth, while supply from the United States (US) slumped as it grappled with its lowest herd size in 73 years...