TPP exporters gaining ground over US for Japan's beef

 Beef producers in the 11-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement enjoyed a surge in sales to Japan in January, as ranchers benefited from lower tariffs than their U.S. competitors. Beef imports from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Mexico, all of which have approved the trade pact, surged to 33,000 metric tons in January, up 56% from the previous year, according to Japan's Finance Ministry. The tariff rate for these countries dropped to 27.5% from 38.5% after the agreement took effect.The main cause of the jump was Japanese importers pushing some December purchases back to January, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Wednesday