Japan and the U.S. appear to be moving quickly on a free-trade agreement, but U.S. ag groups from across the country are pouring on the pressure for negotiators to move in a hurry.

Next week is going to start off with a thud and not an April Fools' Day joke when Japan further lowers tariffs on wheat and barley from Australia, Canada and European Union countries.

Now that the Trump administration has officially informed Congress that it intends to begin negotiations with Japan on a free trade agreement, anticipation is growing for a new deal that’s expected to significantly boost U.S. exports of beef, dairy, pork, rice and other commodities.

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue has an alternate plan to end the U.S. trade war with China and the Trans-Pacific Partnership is key to its success, the cabinet member and former Georgia governor told Agri-Pulse in an interview.