WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk encouraging him to secure a temporary elimination of tariffs levied on goods imported by Japan from the United States.  The request comes in response to growing concerns about the safety of domestically produced food in Japan, which could cause a greater reliance on American production.

“We can’t undo the damage caused by the massive earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan, but we can streamline the recovery by eliminating trade barriers and cutting through red tape,” said Rehberg, a Billings rancher.  “It’s a great tribute to Montanans that as a state we are always eager to lend a hand where we can.  Even as Japan’s food supply faces serious challenges, Montana’s ag producers have the ability to step in and bridge the gap.  I’ll work with all parties to help eliminate this barrier.”

The Letter is below:

Dear Ambassador Kirk,

Like all Americans, I am profoundly concerned about the unfolding tragedy in Japan.  The human cost of this disaster is immeasurable, and the economic impact is sure to spread far beyond the nation’s borders.  Given our long alliance with Japan it is only right that we do everything in our power to help them through this difficult time.

While the long-term prognosis for Japan’s economic health is uncertain, emerging fears about the availability and safety of key agricultural products like milk, vegetables and the grain used to feed livestock are cause for concern.  To address this issue, I urge you to negotiate with the Japanese government for a temporary elimination of tariffs for food and agricultural commodities imported to Japan from the United States.

This temporary tariff holiday would allow U.S. producers to fill the nation’s agricultural needs in an effort to prevent shortages and soaring prices.  It would also allow the Japanese to have a consistent and reliable source for wholesome and safe products while they evaluate the safety of their own food supply.

The tragedy in Japan would only deepen further if uncertainty about the Japanese food supply leads to rationing and rising costs.  A temporary period of tariff relief would allow more American products to enter the country in order to meet the immediate needs of the Japanese people. 

Thank you for your time, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.  Montana’s agricultural producers stand ready to help the Japanese people in any way that we can.

Sincerely,