Consequently, the Government had to undertake very difficult negotiations. Foreign growers can export unlimited amounts of rice to Japan. However, Japan is going to impose a tariff on the amounts exceed the minimum access level. What is most important to know is that minimum access will not change. Now imports are totally limited to numerical levels with no guaranteed right to exceed minimum access.
Nobody can buy beyond minimum access.
After the change, Japan still guarantees minimum access for rice imports. However, US exporters will have the right to go above minimum access levels if they accept the tariff. US growers will be better off because they can exceed the minimum access exports, something that is prohibited now. The US rice growers seem suspicious of change. Some concerns have been expressed that the new approach will lead to reduced market access in Japan.