A new trade deal with Japan could soon help out dairymen, cattlemen, corn and wheat farmers, among many others.

President Donald Trump that the U.S. had a trade deal 鈥渋n principle鈥� with Japan, though the details aren鈥檛 out yet and nothing is expected to be signed for at least several weeks. If ratified, that deal could keep U.S. ag competitive in Japan after the U.S. pulled out of a Trans Pacific Partnership, giving an advantage to competitors (like Australia and New Zealand) that stayed in the agreement.

Joshua Tonsager, vice president of policy and communications for the National Association of Wheat Growers, said Japan is a top customer for U.S. wheat, especially if it鈥檚 coming out of the Mountain West.

鈥淣ationwide, about 50% of the wheat is exported in general. That鈥檚 not specific to Japan, but exported in general,鈥� Tonsager said. 鈥淔or [the Mountain West], it鈥檚 a much higher percentage. It鈥檚 80% to 90% of the wheat gets exported out of the country.鈥�

Tonsager says the trade war with China has cost wheat growers hundreds of millions of dollars, but a deal with Japan should help give wheat growers some security in that market.

Another commodity that depends heavily on a Japanese export is beef. In fact, Japan is U.S. beef鈥檚 largest export market. Kent Bacus, senior director of international trade for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, said a deal is needed with Japan so that American beef can maintain an upward trend of exporting to Japan.

鈥淲e have seen just a tremendous upswing in the last three or four years,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey really like that American brand. So we are the preferential choice of a lot of Japansese consumers, but if we don鈥檛 address that tariff rate, sooner or later we could get priced out of that market.鈥�

As for the China trade war, Bacus was also very optimistic. While many China-dependent Midwest soybean farmers fear losing long-term markets during trade drawn-out negotiations, cattle farmers are than they鈥檝e ever had before. 

鈥淔or just U.S. beef exports, China could be a $4 billion market in the next five years," Bacus said. "$4 billion. Last year, we exported $4 billion total ... that is a tremendous, tremendous increase.鈥�

This story was produced by the Mountain West News Bureau, a collaboration between Wyoming Public Media, Boise State Public Radio in Idaho, KUER in Salt Lake City, KUNR in Nevada, and KRCC and 皇冠网址 in Colorado.