US turns up pressure on Japan over potato imports

NHK has learned the US has once again urged Japan to accelerate procedures to fully open the domestic market to American potatoes.

Sources say the talks took place when senior Japanese officials visited the US earlier this month.

Tokyo bans the import of most raw potatoes due to concerns over diseases and pests.

But the Japanese agriculture ministry is now moving forward with the process of lifting the restriction following the US request. The ministry is expected to identify relevant diseases and pests at a meeting on Friday. It will then move on to discussions on specific risk-reduction measures.

Some in the US potato industry say it's taken Japan too long to respond to the US request.

Japanese potato farmers and others strongly oppose lifting the ban. They say it could deal a heavy blow to the country's agriculture sector.

But the ministry says it is going ahead with the process based on scientific evidence.