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Ranchers.net

Bush to Japan: Cut the beef ban




TOKYO, Mar 10, 2005 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- President Bush has asked Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to resume imports of U.S. beef, the Mainichi Shumbun reported Thursday.

Bush expressed Washington's irritation with Tokyo's reluctance to lift the beef ban during a telephone conversation with Koizumi Wednesday night.

"I hope (beef) imports will start quickly," Koizumi was quoted as telling Bush. "I cannot say the timing of it. But I hope to make progress on the issue to avoid any harmful effects on our relationship."

Bush had raised the same issue in talks with Koizumi in September last year.

The U.S. president's latest request came at a time when several U.S. politicians are proposing economic sanctions against Japan unless Tokyo resumes U.S. beef imports.

In Japan, government-appointed experts are discussing how to ease inspection regulations on beef imports. If the experts approve of deregulated inspections, Japanese officials will talk with their U.S. counterparts about conditions to resume beef imports.
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