• If you are having problems logging in please use the Contact Us in the lower right hand corner of the forum page for assistance.

Beef Exports to Japan

Mike

Well-known member
U.S. Beef Exports to Japan Slow
Oct. 18, 2006

Despite strong demand for U.S. beef in Japan, beef exports to Japan have been slowed by regulations and hesitant packers. The president of the Cattleman's Beef Association said, "Our perspective is that the demand in Japan for U.S. product is higher than the supply right now." As part of an agreement to restart the trade, Japan restricted imports from the U.S. and Canada to cattle under 21 months old. This has made it difficult for exporters to get large volumes of product flowing through the system. Japan first reopened its market in December 2005 to U.S. beef then shut it again a month later following the discovery of prohibited spinal material. U.S. exporters were left grappling with major losses and now see the Japanese market as unreliable. As a result, when the trade with Japan restarted in August, U.S. exporters decided against immediately gearing up for and preparing the huge volumes of beef. The U.S. exported 623 metric tons of beef to Japan in January. In August, these exports totaled just 105 tons.

This should be seen as an admission that the USDA should have allowed private packers to test so that the age of an animal wouldn't be a hinderance to exports.

This was a huge mistake. My eight year old grandaughter could have seen this coming. :roll:
 

Sandhusker

Well-known member
DISCLOSURE: THE FOLLOWING WAS WRITTEN TONGUE-IN-CHEEK (or would that be fingers in cheek, then?)

You just don't understand the longer term and broader trade issue, Mike. It was much smarter to cave into an agreement that imposed such restrictions on our product that we can't meet what demand is there than it was to cave into "meaningless" testing. Aren't we so much better off? Look at what strides we've made! We showed them!

You must ignore the fact that the Japanese Government went to testing to deal with domestic fears and made it law to test domestic product so that you can see what it actually is; a trade barrier.

We must stand for sound science and demand that all nations follow it in trade. Don't consider that we have for years allowed product that is not based on sound science to be traded, and forget that we don't always follow that demand ourselves - the 21 mo. age limit being a prime example. It does make a good press bite, though.

The Ninth Circuit was correct when they stated that the government must be given deference. Condradictions, hypocritical policies, and even complete reversals without explanations need to be ignored because Uncle Sam does know best. To not understand what is best for the big packers is best for us all shows your lack of comprehension.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Sure sounds like the words I hear parroted by a person sitting in an Ivory Tower which could care less about demand, supply, or prices as long as they still get their wage/commission either way.... :roll: :lol:
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Funny you USDA blamers haven't come up with some wild conspiracy theory to blame USDA for BSE. Oh wait, you already have blamed USDA for BSE haven't you. Sorry, lost my head again.


~SH~
 

Econ101

Well-known member
~SH~ said:
Funny you USDA blamers haven't come up with some wild conspiracy theory to blame USDA for BSE. Oh wait, you already have blamed USDA for BSE haven't you. Sorry, lost my head again.


~SH~

If you have proof of it, sh, bring it on. We would all like to hear it. The USDA has used bse to advantage some of the biggest packers at the expense of producers and that is a fact. I don't mind being called a "blamer" when it comes to stating that fact. All you have is name calling. Would you please grow up or find your peer group? My child's kindergarten class is full.
 

agman

Well-known member
Mike said:
U.S. Beef Exports to Japan Slow
Oct. 18, 2006

Despite strong demand for U.S. beef in Japan, beef exports to Japan have been slowed by regulations and hesitant packers. The president of the Cattleman's Beef Association said, "Our perspective is that the demand in Japan for U.S. product is higher than the supply right now." As part of an agreement to restart the trade, Japan restricted imports from the U.S. and Canada to cattle under 21 months old. This has made it difficult for exporters to get large volumes of product flowing through the system. Japan first reopened its market in December 2005 to U.S. beef then shut it again a month later following the discovery of prohibited spinal material. U.S. exporters were left grappling with major losses and now see the Japanese market as unreliable. As a result, when the trade with Japan restarted in August, U.S. exporters decided against immediately gearing up for and preparing the huge volumes of beef. The U.S. exported 623 metric tons of beef to Japan in January. In August, these exports totaled just 105 tons.

This should be seen as an admission that the USDA should have allowed private packers to test so that the age of an animal wouldn't be a hinderance to exports.

This was a huge mistake. My eight year old grandaughter could have seen this coming. :roll:

How could this possibly be, it must be a conspiracy, the strong Japanese consumer demand for U.S beef. They must not have cleared this article with Sandy and OT!!!!! All you have to do is ask Sandy and OT they will tell you what they think they know which is generally nothing.
 

agman

Well-known member
Oldtimer said:
Sure sounds like the words I hear parroted by a person sitting in an Ivory Tower which could care less about demand, supply, or prices as long as they still get their wage/commission either way.... :roll: :lol:

I think I have a better vantage point from that Ivory Tower you talk about then your view from the back end of a horse. The view never changes from where you stand.

How would you know what I care about beef demand; you cannot even define demand? I am confident I have forgotten more about supply & demand than you will ever know. Your commentary is one of desperation as you remain factually void on almost every issue.
 

Sandhusker

Well-known member
Agman, "How could this possibly be, it must be a conspiracy, the strong Japanese consumer demand for U.S beef. They must not have cleared this article with Sandy and OT!!!!! All you have to do is ask Sandy and OT they will tell you what they think they know which is generally nothing."

And yet once again, Agman, I'll ask you to expain the millions being spent to "regain the confidence" of the Japanese consumers if the demand is so strong. The fellas writing those checks obviously aren't quite so sold on the demand over there. But, hey, don't let facts get in the way of an opportunity for a trademark smarter-than-thou condecending post....
 

Econ101

Well-known member
agman said:
Oldtimer said:
Sure sounds like the words I hear parroted by a person sitting in an Ivory Tower which could care less about demand, supply, or prices as long as they still get their wage/commission either way.... :roll: :lol:

I think I have a better vantage point from that Ivory Tower you talk about then your view from the back end of a horse. The view never changes from where you stand.

How would you know what I care about beef demand; you cannot even define demand? I am confident I have forgotten more about supply & demand than you will ever know. Your commentary is one of desperation as you remain factually void on almost every issue.

Agman, all your figuiring for the packers is about to make your head bust. Can you stop it for your own sake?

You can't even be honest about demand, so how would remembering about it be helpful?
 

don

Well-known member
one way to get more beef into japan would be to ask the japanese what would make the product more acceptable; i.e. testing so the product from older animals would meet regulations. maybe then the supply could meet the demand. have to wonder why nobody thought of that!!!!!!! oh yeah, creekstone thought of it a long time ago but i guess the geniuses at usda, cfia, etc. know that wouldn't be a practical solution. at least not for their masters.
 

Sandhusker

Well-known member
Don, "one way to get more beef into japan would be to ask the japanese "

That strategy would be based on common sense and time-tested methods, neither of which the USDA is interested in. Their benefactors don't always win in that scenario.
 

Econ101

Well-known member
BSE policy is the excuse. It would be far easier to change the bse policy and regain our markets than to stick with them and lose them.

The USDA is carrying water for the big packers at the expense of sound science and free markets.

Sounds more like communist China than America.

We have Senators like Thad Cochrane, Saxby Chambliss, John Cornyn, and Arlen Spector to blame for that. All republicans and all frustrating the basic tenants of the American way for their own self interest and the interests of their sellout party.
 

Jason

Well-known member
You guys keep forgetting Japan bungled their handling of their first case of BSE.

Consumer confidence in beef was hurt. Demand fell for all beef.

100% testing was a desperation measure to salvage some consumer confidence, and save their already tenuous domestic sector. It didn't bring back the demand that was lost, it barely saved the domestic producers.

It will be a long process to gain back every Japanese consumer of beef. Some will never return. Canada and the US were already spending millions of dollars advertising grain fed beef to the Japanese consumer trying to increase the market, and their share of it.

Understanding the market isn't something done overnight. Just sitting here and saying what do you want isn't going to cut it. Domestic consumers don't even know what they want in relationship to what we produce.

If I ask a consumer what they want for beef, maybe half even know some of the cuts they can get. Most I tell what to get after I find out how they cook. The only thing they really want to understand is how much money for how much of their freezer being filled.

The Japanese would also have their own basic questions, not always readilly apperant from across the Pacific. To assume a simple test they may or may not trust will make them buy beef is pretty simplistic.
 

Econ101

Well-known member
Jason said:
You guys keep forgetting Japan bungled their handling of their first case of BSE.

Consumer confidence in beef was hurt. Demand fell for all beef.

100% testing was a desperation measure to salvage some consumer confidence, and save their already tenuous domestic sector. It didn't bring back the demand that was lost, it barely saved the domestic producers.

It will be a long process to gain back every Japanese consumer of beef. Some will never return. Canada and the US were already spending millions of dollars advertising grain fed beef to the Japanese consumer trying to increase the market, and their share of it.

Understanding the market isn't something done overnight. Just sitting here and saying what do you want isn't going to cut it. Domestic consumers don't even know what they want in relationship to what we produce.

If I ask a consumer what they want for beef, maybe half even know some of the cuts they can get. Most I tell what to get after I find out how they cook. The only thing they really want to understand is how much money for how much of their freezer being filled.

The Japanese would also have their own basic questions, not always readilly apperant from across the Pacific. To assume a simple test they may or may not trust will make them buy beef is pretty simplistic.

They are not going to buy it if they don't think it is safe. Who in their right mind would?

With our bse polciy of not allowing that fear to be verified with a simple test, we are shooting ourselves in the foot. It wouldn't be the first time that has happened but it seems to be the intention of the NCBA and other cattle groups who are not proactive in SELLING TO THE CUSTOMER WHAT THEY WANT!!!
 

Jason

Well-known member
They are not going to buy it if they don't think it is safe. Who in their right mind would?

That very well may be the first thing you ever posted that I can agree with.

The Japanese public hasn't shown confidence in domestic product despite 100% testing.

Untested product from Canada and the US has sold. Those consumers believe in the safety of that product to buy it.

Spending money advertising our standards and quality is money well spent to draw more consumers to the same conclusion.
 

Econ101

Well-known member
Jason said:
They are not going to buy it if they don't think it is safe. Who in their right mind would?

That very well may be the first thing you ever posted that I can agree with.

The Japanese public hasn't shown confidence in domestic product despite 100% testing.

Untested product from Canada and the US has sold. Those consumers believe in the safety of that product to buy it.

Spending money advertising our standards and quality is money well spent to draw more consumers to the same conclusion.

No, Jason, you aredead wrong. The Japanese public is eating all of the beef produced in Japan with testing.

You need to get a few things straight to be able to make sense.
 

rkaiser

Well-known member
The non testing policy is sure working well to keep the captive North American market in place hey Agman? Don't want to talk about the North American captive market do you?

Who cares if American beef makes it's way to Japan when you have plants in other parts of the world that fill the void. Especially when it means a captive market that can be manipulated, even just a little bit, right in your home country.
 

Sandhusker

Well-known member
Jason, "To assume a simple test they may or may not trust will make them buy beef is pretty simplistic."

And worth a try. It isn't going to hurt a dang thing, why not let somebody give it a go?
 
Top