Japan’s longest-serving leader and former prime minister, Shinzo Abe, died after being shot at a political campaign event last week.
The U.S. Grains Council commented on his passing as a great loss for the country.
“Prime Minister Abe was a leader in many ways, including growing trade between the U.S. and Japan,” says USGC President and CEO Ryan LeGrand.
‘He continued the long, close friendship between the U.S. and Japan that goes back even farther than the first office we opened in Japan in 1961.” U.S. Meat Export Federation President and CEO Dan Halstrom says his organization is deeply saddened by the death of Abe.
“In addition to being a strong and reliable ally of the U.S., he was a true champion for free trade,” Halstrom says, “especially his leadership in advancing the U.S.-Japan agreement, which was a major victory for American agriculture.” Halstrom also called Abe “courageous and relentless.”