U.S. vows to seek fully open Japanese market
By Tom Wray
Editor, ProvisionerOnline
3/30/2008
WASHINGTON – The United States on Friday said that it will keep urging that Japan fully open its market to American beef by lifting its restrictions related to mad cow disease fears.
"The U.S. government remains highly concerned by Japan's unwillingness to adopt these science based, international guidelines under which beef and beef products can be safely traded," the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said in its 2008 National Trade Estimate Report on foreign trade barriers, according to the Japan Economic Newswire.
The report was referring to a decision last May by the World Organization for Animal Health to allow the United States to export beef regardless of cattle age, the news service said.
According to the JEN, Japan was the largest importer of U.S. beef before banning U.S. beef imports in December 2003, when the first U.S. case of mad cow disease was discovered.
It lifted the ban in December 2005 under conditions including limiting U.S. beef imports to meat coming from cattle aged 20 months or younger.
By Tom Wray
Editor, ProvisionerOnline
3/30/2008
WASHINGTON – The United States on Friday said that it will keep urging that Japan fully open its market to American beef by lifting its restrictions related to mad cow disease fears.
"The U.S. government remains highly concerned by Japan's unwillingness to adopt these science based, international guidelines under which beef and beef products can be safely traded," the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said in its 2008 National Trade Estimate Report on foreign trade barriers, according to the Japan Economic Newswire.
The report was referring to a decision last May by the World Organization for Animal Health to allow the United States to export beef regardless of cattle age, the news service said.
According to the JEN, Japan was the largest importer of U.S. beef before banning U.S. beef imports in December 2003, when the first U.S. case of mad cow disease was discovered.
It lifted the ban in December 2005 under conditions including limiting U.S. beef imports to meat coming from cattle aged 20 months or younger.