Japanese Wagyu Exports Face Tariff Hurdles in US Market

Awareness of Wagyu beef has risen significantly in the United States in recent years.

In Japan, Wagyu refers to four breeds raised domestically — Japanese Black, Japanese Brown, Japanese Shorthorn and Japanese Polled — as well as their crossbreeds.

The term "Wagyu" now appears on high-end steakhouse menus, burgers, sandwiches and retail shelves. However, most Wagyu beef sold in the United States is produced domestically or in Australia, Kim Sueyong reported for Mainichi Japan on June 18, 2026.

In Japan, Wagyu refers to four breeds raised domestically — Japanese Black, Japanese Brown, Japanese Shorthorn and Japanese Polled — as well as their crossbreeds.

Breeding cattle were exported from Japan during the 1970s through the 1990s.

Their descendants were later crossbred with Angus and other breeds and are now marketed as Wagyu.

In the United States, the beef is considered a premium product, and industry groups have sought to protect the brand, including through a certification program launched with the US Department of Agriculture in 2025 for "authentic" American Wagyu.

Consumers continue to seek A5 Wagyu, the highest grade of marbled beef. Japan says its beef exports to the United States more than doubled in 2021 from a year earlier to 1,178 metric tons.

Takashi Ono, chairperson of the Japan Meat Grading Association, said the quality difference remains significant.

"The melt-in-your-mouth texture of Wagyu packed with marbling is exceptional," Ono said.

Despite growing demand, Wagyu still accounts for less than 1 percent of total US beef imports, according to Philip Seng, who promotes Wagyu in the United States.

The biggest obstacle to growth is tariffs. Under the Japan-US Trade Agreement that took effect in 2020, Japan benefited from a lower-tariff import quota. However, imports of Brazilian beef surged that same year, causing the quota ceiling to be reached early in both 2025 and 2026.

Once the quota is exhausted, a tariff of 26.4 percent applies. Seng said the higher tariff is limiting Wagyu consumption growth.

As Japan faces a shrinking domestic market caused by demographic decline and rising production costs, the country is seeking to expand Wagyu exports. Japan also argues that fair and reciprocal beef trade would benefit both countries because it imports large quantities of US beef and grain feed.