Washington, Nov. 8 (Jiji Press)–The Agriculture Department has issued a report voicing concern over possible negative impacts on U.S. pork exports to Japan from a Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade pact among 11 nations without the United States.

The report, titled “U.S. Pork Faces Tariff Headwinds in Japan,” noted that an economic partnership agreement between Japan and the European Union, and the potential TPP among the 11 nations, including Japan, “could leave U.S. pork exports at a significant tariff disadvantage relative to competitors.”

The two agreements “are likely to contain similar tariff concessions for a wide range of pork products, including fresh, chilled, and frozen pork as well as processed products such as ham, bacon, sausage, ground seasoned pork, and canned ham,” it said.

Japan and the EU reached a broad accord on the EPA in July. Noting that the EPA could enter into force as early as 2019, the report said that pork from such countries as Spain is likely to gain competitive edge in Japan because the Asian country’s tariffs on EU pork would be lowered under the free trade pact.

If the 11 TPP nations reach an accord on the multilateral free trade deal, Mexican and Chilean pork would have tariff advantage over U.S. produce in the Japanese market, the report also warned.