Japan: Its not the closed border, Its the BSE

[Anonymous]

Japan: It's not the border, it's the BSE
Tuesday, March 22, 2005, 3:40 PM

by Tom Steever/National Farm Broadcast Service

A Japanese agriculture official last week dismissed U.S. claims that Tokyo is more likely to resume imports of North American beef if the U.S. ends its ban on Canadian cattle.

Japan's Agriculture Undersecretary Mamoru Ishihara says what matters is that the U.S. and Canada take measures against Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy. That, however, runs counter to what is maintained by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns and agricultural leaders like American Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman. "If we don't open that market, assuming everything's been done to assure that the science is being properly implemented there, then other countries can use the same excuse for our products," said Stallman.

"There are obviously groups in this country that don't want the market open for economic reasons," Stallman added. The American Farm Bureau says they stand shoulder to shoulder with the USDA, which has appealed a court decision that is keeping the Canadian border closed.

 

[McLeod]

Oldtimer......... as long as the USA has Senators that openly speak of trade sanctions against the Japanese, and judges that get paid off by consumer groups disquised as ranchers, why would anyone take a "BULLY" like the USA seriously?

I suppose you would just have to start naming your cows ENOLA, or your bulls BOYS or MAN, and maybe the Japanese might get a rad flash to reality.

The likes of Condomleaking Lice trying to bribe the Japanese with UN appointments just makes this even more desparate looking to the rest of us.

 

[Kato]

http://www.cattlenetwork.com/content.asp?contentid=4229

CANADA LOOKS TOWARDS FREE TRADE WITH JAPAN: According to the Globe and Mail, Canada and Japanese officials have quietly begun negotiating the terms of a study that could lead to a free-trade agreement within the next several years. The trade study, which was agreed to in January during Prime Minister Martin's visit, will have a one-year deadline and should be completed by the summer of 2006. Agriculture will be a contentious issue, as Japan may be unwilling to drop its traditional policy of shielding its farmers from foreign competition. Japan is considered a key market for Canadian goods, despite the fact that Canada's share of the Japanese import market has slipped to 2 percent from 3.2 percent in 1995. Business groups in Canada have lobbied hard for a trade agreement with Japan and are pleased with the announcement of the trade study. According to the business community, the trade study and possible trade agreement could pave the way for improved trade relations between the two countries.