Evidence is mounting that President Donald Trump’s decision to back out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership is taking a heavy economic toll on rural America, reports POLITICO.
U.S. farmers and meat producers had been looking forward to seeing Asian markets opened up to their products. Instead, countries like Japan have taken their business elsewhere, seeking to purchase meats, grains and fruits from countries with lower tariffs.
U.S pork producers had been hungrily eyeing the Japanese market. Instead, they’ve seen U.S. pork sales to Japan drop by 9 percent in a single year. Japanese officials have expressed dismay at Trump’s unwillingness to work with them for the betterment of both countries.
“I think withdrawal from TPP is very wrong,” said one Japanese official, adding that the withdrawal “has diminished many of things that the U.S. has achieved in the region.”