Gov Jim Pillen, Courtesy Governor’s Office
Governor Jim Pillen is leading a Nebraska trade delegation to Japan and the Philippines to expand export opportunities for the state’s agriculture, ethanol, and advanced manufacturing industries.
According to the Governor’s Office, the delegation departed this weekend and includes Nebraska farmers and ranchers, leaders from the ethanol industry, and representatives of the state’s advanced manufacturing sector. The Nebraska Department of Economic Development is coordinating the mission.
Japan remains one of Nebraska’s most important international trading partners. State officials say Japan purchased more than $500 million worth of Nebraska beef and pork in 2025, making it one of the state’s leading overseas markets for agricultural products.
The governor’s delegation also plans to promote Nebraska’s growing role in low-carbon energy production.
Japan has adopted a policy to introduce E10 gasoline nationwide by 2030, a move expected to significantly increase demand for ethanol. Nebraska produces more than two billion gallons of ethanol annually, and state officials say its existing carbon pipeline infrastructure positions the state to help meet Japan’s demand for cleaner transportation fuels.
The second leg of the trade mission takes the delegation to the Philippines, where officials hope to expand markets for Nebraska wheat, beef and ethanol.
With a population exceeding 112 million and continued economic growth, the Philippines has become an increasingly important market in Southeast Asia. The country currently imports a significant share of the ethanol needed to satisfy its E10 fuel blending requirement, much of it from the United States.
Japan and the Philippines rank second and third among importers of U.S. wheat, while demand for beef continues to grow in the Philippines as the country’s middle class expands.
The trip also includes a historical component.
The United States and the Philippines are marking 80 years of diplomatic relations in 2026, along with the 75th anniversary of the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty. During the visit, the Nebraska delegation will pay tribute to Americans who served in the Pacific Theater by visiting the Manila American Cemetery, honoring U.S. service members who died during World War II.
The trade mission begins Sunday in Osaka, Japan, before the delegation travels to the Philippines on Monday evening local time, according to the Governor’s Office.