Argentina’s government announced on Wednesday that it had cleared the sanitary hurdles needed to begin re-exporting beef from its main cattle-producing regions to Japan, nearly two decades after first seeking access to one of the world’s most demanding and lucrative markets.
Negotiations on the agreement began two years ago in earnest, with a view to enabling the export of beef from the country’s main production areas in the centre and north, which are considered free from foot-and-mouth disease – a viral disease affecting cattle – and subject to vaccination.
“This is a historic agreement,” Economy Minister Luis Caputo said on X, saying the opening would create new opportunities for Argentine production and exports.
Japan imports more than US$3 billion worth of beef a year from around the world, the minister said, adding that the deal recognised the quality of Argentine beef and the strength of its sanitary controls.
The opportunity is tempered, however, by Japan’s 38.5 percent tariff on beef imports, which limits the impact of the market opening.
Argentina first sought access to the Japanese market in 2006, though negotiations gained fresh momentum in 2024.
Japan has permitted the importing of beef and beef products from southern Argentina, recognised as a foot-and-mouth disease-free zone without vaccination, since 2018, although trade was virtually non-existent.
Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno said the agreement would expand Argentina’s access to the Japanese market beyond Patagonia.
“Today we agreed with Japan on the animal-health requirements that will allow beef and beef by-products from Argentina’s foot-and-mouth disease-free zone with vaccination to be exported,” Quirno said.
The agreement also covers beef tongue and effectively opens the Japanese market to beef from across Argentina.
Exports from the newly authorised region can begin once Japanese authorities carry out a planned audit of Argentina’s sanitary system and inspect and approve establishments seeking to export to Japan, the government said.
The agreement marks the culmination of a 12-stage process that began with an Argentine request in 2006. Negotiations were revived in 2024 after the government made access to the Japanese market a priority.
The agreement involved Argentina’s Economy Ministry, Foreign Ministry and SENASA health officials, including official missions to Tokyo and visits to Argentina by Japanese officials and lawmakers.
A key step came in February, when Japan’s Animal Health Committee concluded that the risk of introducing foot-and-mouth disease through boneless beef from northern Argentina would be extremely low if the required sanitary measures were applied.
The opening comes as Argentina’s beef industry sits at a crossroads, with exports at record levels while slaughter and domestic consumption are falling.
Average annual beef consumption per person fell to 46kg in the 12 months to August, 9.5 percent down year-on-year.
In 2025, Argentina exported a record US$3.7 billion worth of beef, up 22.3 percent year-on-year, according to official data. The increase was helped by higher international prices and follows the removal of export restrictions under President Javier Milei.
China remains Argentina’s main beef export market.
–TIMES/AFP/PERFIL
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