75% Japanese say Tested Beef Only- Or No US Beef

[Anonymous]

Today 6/29/2005 7:00:00 PM


Jolley: Japanese Consumers In No Hurry To Resume U.S. Beef Trade



Asahi Shimbun, Japan's leading newspaper, asked its readers for their opinion of the negotiations to resume U.S. beef imports. In a report published today, consumers were overwhelmingly in favor of their government's restrictive stance.



Repudiating the American position, 75% said either trade resumption should happen only with the most severe restrictions or they no longer needed U.S. beef in their diet. Slightly more than 13% expressed an opinion favorable to the U.S. beef interests. 1344 people responded to the survey.



With no pressure coming from their constituents, Japanese negotiators will undoubtedly continue to "hang tough" in their demands for what the general population sees as reasonable restrictions on trade resumption. With the recent mad cow incident fueling the fire, it could mean protracted negotiations.



The following table shows the survey results.



Percent Responses
8.0% 108
Question--Government should negotiate with U.S. to resume trade immediately.

5.4% 73
Accept 30 month rule as USA wants.

11.5% 155
Resume trade with 20 month rule as Government says.

40.4% 543
Trade should be resumed with much more severe regulations than 20 month rule, including 100% test.

34.6% 465
I don't need US beef anymore.

 

[Murgen]

Damn,.they must have read the RCALF releases too. BEEF IN NORTH AMERICA IS UNSAFE, BECAUSE OF OUR SAFEGUARDS! OUR ORGS. CANNOT PROTECT US BECAUSE OF BUNGLING.

 

[Bill]

I wonder what the survey results would be if they were offered Canadian beef.

 

[Murgen]

Bill, they are being offered Canadian beef, look for the border to open to an honest and transparent country before one that uses trade as a tool.

The Japanese have known what has been going on long before RCALF was even established ( they were stalling), they too, are playiing politics and were waiting for an excuse.

If they listen to RCALF, our beef will be there a couple of years ahead of theirs!

Is it 7 or 9 years from the first domestic case, that RCALF was touting?

 

[PORKER]

Only BSE tested cattle will be allowed in Japan and each peice of the animal's meat will have to have a traceback to the slaughter certificate proving a BSE test and have a age an origin record .

 

[Murgen]

Dang, Porker, I guess DNA is the way to go then, just like Maple Leaf Pork!