State Agriculture Secretary Patty Judge says there are some concerns about the future of trade between Iowa and Japan. Judge recently made a trip to Japan with Iowa soybean producers to discuss the trade situation.Judge says genetically modified organisms or G-M-O’s are at the center of the Japanese concern. She says the government now requires all food labels in Japan to say if the item includes genetically modified material.Judge says it looks as though the Japanese will accept the paperwork already produced by Iowans that tracks the G-M-O crops, which is good news, because it won’t require extra paperwork.Judge says organically grown beans are also a big market in Japan. Judge says the rules governing the certification of the organic beans are still up in the air. She says there aren’t any major problems in trade with the Japanese that can’t be worked out.Judge says there is some question still about the soundness of Japan’s economy and how that might impact the trade with Iowa.
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