Japan is raising tariffs on US beef imports from 25.8 percent to 38.5 percent for 30 days as volumes have exceeded levels under the Japan-US trade agreement for the fiscal year ending on March 31.

The last time the safeguard measure was imposed on U.S. beef imports was in August 2017.

Japan imported a total of 242,229 tons of US beef by early March, exceeding the maximum 242,000 tons set an agreement for the current fiscal year.

There was increased Japanese demand for US beef, due to slower imports from Australia because of a drought.

Lower Japanese tariffs on US beef took effect last year.

As the tariff will drop to 25 percent from April 17, beef importers could delay the customs process until then.