Japanese Officials Tell R-CALF Actions Will Delay Re-opening

[Bull Burger]

by James Wiesemeyer, Inside Washington Today Today 3/15/2005 4:34:00 PM


Cattle Alert: Japanese Officials Tell R-CALF Actions Will Delay Re-opening Border

R-CALF placed a half-page lobby-type ad in today's Washington Post, thanking the U.S. Senate for passing a resolution (52-46) that would, if it passed the House and was signed into law by President Bush (both unlikely events) do what a district court judge in Billings, Montana (Judge Richard Cebull) has already helped R-CALF accomplish: maintain the closure of the U.S.-Canadian border to live cattle under 30 months of age.

The ad urges the House of Representatives to support the resolution of disapproval "against USDA's weakening of U.S. import standards." The ad was paid for by the Ranchers Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of America (www.r-calfusa.com).It includes R-CALF friendly quotes

What the ad does not say is what some Japanese officials reportedly told R-CALF in a recent meeting with them -- that R-CALF's actions have helped delay the time that it will take Japan to resume imports of American beef. Japanese sources told me that, "R-CALF officials were perplexed when we told them they are part of the problem."

A Japanese official told me the following:

"R-CALF's actions will actually delay the re-opening of the Japanese border. Current actions by [U.S.] Senators and House members have stimulated the Japanese media and Japanese consumer associations to start an opposition campaign. This will delay the internal Japanese review process, especially the risk-communications process for consumers.

"In addition, your (R-CALF) actions are increasing [the U.S.] Congress's frustration and their elevated political pressure on Japan is only complicating the issue opening the Japanese border. Political pressure or interference is not assisting in the normalization of beef products between our two countries.

"When R-CALF points to the risk of Canadian beef, you are increasing Japanese consumers' anxiety for U.S. beef, because we believe the risk of beef from both countries is similar. And if you point to the risk of Canadian cattle, you are ignoring the function of removing SRMs (Specified Risk Materials) as the internationally accepted food safety measure and area also increasing Japanese consumers' anxiety for U.S. beef."


To recap, several Japanese officials told me last week that...

-- Japan views the U.S. and Canada as an integrated market and as Japan nears resuming American beef buys, it will be hard to communicate to the Japanese public and definitely Japanese consumer groups if the U.S.-Canadian border is still closed.

-- It will be July or August before Japan makes a final decision to resume U.S. beef imports -- and that is assuming "no more litigation delays."

-- Regulatory comment periods ahead: There are two four-week comment periods coming up via the Japanese regulatory process on this topic.And there is a likely one-month timeline for revision of ministerial ordinances regarding domestic BSE measure. That's nine weeks and does not include the time it will take to issue a final report on the consultations to resume beef trade.

-- Powerful Japanese consumer groups must be dealt with: U.S. officials, farm-state lawmakers. and farm group representatives continue to underestimate the sensitivity of BSE issues among powerful Japanese consumer groups.

-- Political pressure on Japanese officials and agencies is a negative in getting a timeline established regarding resuming American beef shipments.This includes the talk President Bush had last week with Japanese Prime Minister.

-- Japanese domestic producers do not benefit from the Japanese import prohibition. Japanese calf prices are at a record high. This has reduced profits for feeders in Japan. If feeders lose economic power, Japanese calf producers will lose their markets. Numerous BBQ restaurants in Japan have closed and that has reduced potential demand for beef in Japan. "Keeping the border closed to U.S. beef is not in the interest of Japanese beef interests," the Japanese officials concluded.


http://www.cattlenetwork.com/content.asp?contentid=4242

[agman]

The commnets from the Japanese dispell some the myths prepetuated by R-CAlf. Thanks for making the post. Have a great day.

[SASH]

Excellent post. It sounds very similar to what my Brother-In-Law in Japan has been telling me.

[HAY MAKER]

It really depends,on which camp you are in.These slanted opinions of one jornalist,or cattle men.these so called "myths prepetuated by R-CAlf."are what CATTLE MEN call honest facts................good luck

[Tam]

Calling Haymaker

Do you still think R-CALF isn't hurting consumer confidence. Their actions are being felt half way around the world. The Japanese may not be consumer right now but there are a whole lot of US ranchers that were hoping they would be some day soon and that looks to be a little farther down the road because of the actions of R-CALF and their fear mongering about Canadian beef. We have been telling you this for months but you go right on think that R-CALF is building consumer confidence with their statement and see how far you get with the Japanese

[Maple Leaf Angus]

Haymaker - your words and actions as an r-calfer remind me of the little kid who s*** in his pants and then pointed at all the other kids on the playground and told them they stink.

[Tam]

[Sandhusker]

Sounds to me like another batch of excuse making by the Japanese.

[Bull Burger]

[HAY MAKER]

[agman]

This aint 2003,BULL BURGER,things change you keep looking
backwards ,you need to start looking where you are going instead of where you been.................good luck[/quote]

Response...Where do you think we are going Haymaker?

[HAY MAKER]