Presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump told supporters at a campaign stop in Nebraska that he plans to go tit-for-tat when it comes to tariffs on ag products such as beef. “There won’t be any more tariffs with Japan, or if there will, we’re going to do it the opposite way to them. "You want to charge a tariff of 38 percent to Nebraska for its beef? Then we’re going to charge you a tariff of 38 percent when you sell your cars to the United States. It’s a very simple thing,’” Trump said.
Trump added that he would make sure China buys U.S. beef as well. Most of China has not allowed direct imports of U.S. beef.
Yet Trump opposes the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which would lower the tariff on beef going to Japan. Japan's tariffs on beef are 38.5%. Under the TPP, the tariffs will fall over all to 9% over 15 years.
U.S. beef producers have supported TPP partially because it would level the playing field with Australia. Under the existing Australia-Japan FTA Australian beef producers will see their tariff in to Japan drop to 23.5% for chilled beef within 15 years. The U.S. tariff on imported autos is 2.5% while it is 25% for trucks.