No Progress in Japan-US Talks on Lifting of US Beef Import Ban

 

On February 11, US Trade Representative Ambassador Robert B. Zoellick, currently visiting Japan, met, in succession, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Yoshiyuki Kamei, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Shoichi Nakagawa, Minister of Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi, and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda, for talks on the import ban on American beef imposed by Japan following the outbreak of BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) in the United States. In response to the USTR's repeated requests that the ban be lifted, the ministers reiterated Japan's position that the US must first introduce measures for the testing of all slaughtered cattle and take steps to ensure the removal of all specified risk materials from carcasses, but the two sides failed to reach agreement.

 

During the talks, the United States communicated its intention of sending a team of government representatives to Japan to re-open talks with a view to obtaining the lifting of the import ban. However, the United States has merely said it is "considering" whether or not to strengthen its BSE countermeasures in response to the recommendations of the international committee of experts, published on February 4, and has not changed its negative stance on the testing of all slaughtered cattle, taking the position that the need for testing of all slaughtered cattle should be assessed on a scientific basis and that care should be taken to ensure that trade is not obstructed.