United States Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said Japan's decision to lift restrictions on American beef imports is a "big win" for Tennessee's cattlemen.

"President Trump deserves credit for working with the Japanese to end this trade restriction and bring much-needed certainty to Tennessee's 340,000 farmers," Alexander said. "Agriculture is one of Tennessee's most important industries, with more than 66,000 farms contributing tens of billions of dollars each year to our state's economy. Ending these tariffs is a big win for Tennessee's cattlemen."

Tennessee is home to more than 66,000 farms and nearly 11 million acres of farmland. Beef cattle are produced in every county in Tennessee and was the second highest agriculture export from Tennessee in 2017, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

USDA announced Friday that Japan will allow products from U.S. cattle, regardless of age, to be imported into the country for the first time since 2003. The National Cattlemen's Beef Association President, Jennifer Houston, said that this decision will "hopefully send a signal to other Asian nations that non-science-based trade barriers like this one should be eliminated in their countries, as well."