Washington Business Summer 2019 | Washington Business | Page 31

washington business
Ken Griffey Jr. speaks to the “Business and Baseball” trade delegation
during a reception in Tokyo.
Wednesday began with an overview of the Japanese economy,
discussion on agricultural trade policy and a briefing on the 2020
Summer Olympics, which will be hosted in Tokyo.
The delegation also discussed the Trans-Pacific Partnership,
the international trade agreement between 11 countries, including
Japan, Australia, Mexico and others. Although the United States
pulled out of the deal in 2017, the remaining countries created their
own agreement.
Washington wheat farmers produced more than 153 million
bushels in 2018. Most of that is exported, and Japan is a major
customer. Overall, Japan is the No. 2 customer for all wheat exported
from U.S. producers.
Washington’s soft white winter wheat varieties are a big hit with
Japanese bakers, who use it to make flour for cakes, pastries and
other delicacies.
Japan, just like the U.S., is experiencing workforce challenges,
particularly in agriculture. Stephanie Hemphill, AWB’s director of
events, said one of the things she learned during the trip is that the
average farmer in Japan is 67 years old. Many young people want
to leave the country to work, and the country is facing negative
population growth.
The delegation also got a chance to sit down with high-level
executives from the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan, and
have candid discussions about what it’s like to do business there,
she said.
“This organization does it like no other. These
are working events, they’re educational events
... The state of Washington has a footprint in
Japan that is really unparalleled.”
— AWB Board Chair Tim Schauer
summer 2019
31