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U.S. Beef Off Limits To Japs

Mike

Well-known member
Despite end of ban, U.S. beef virtually off-limits at Japanese stores
This article was published on Monday, August 21, 2006 7:54 PM CDT in Business
By Yuri Kageyama
AP Business Writer
Email this story Print this story TOKYO (AP) -- It's been weeks since Japan ditched its import ban on U.S. beef and the first shipment went on sale, but American beef is nowhere to be seen at supermarkets here -- except in Japan's five Costco stores.

Many Japanese are worried about the safety of U.S. beef. Retailers here said they aren't about to waste their time carrying an unpopular product. Instead, meat section shelves are filled with beef from Japan and Australia.

Japan once was the top destination for U.S. beef, importing $1.4 billion each year. But that was before Tokyo's December 2003 decision to ban American beef imports after the first case of mad cow disease in the U.S.

The U.S. government repeatedly has said the beef is safe because of stringent checks. But such assurances have done little to allay the fears of Japanese about mad cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy, a degenerative nerve disease in cattle.

Eating contaminated meat products has been linked to the rare but fatal human variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in more than 150 deaths. The outbreak, mostly in Britain, peaked in the 1990s.

"It's scary -- all this talk about mad cow disease," said housewife Kimie Suzuki, who eats mostly fish but sticks with Japanese beef when she eats meat. "I've had foreign beef before but it tastes different."

Fears like Suzuki's have grown, not diminished, in recent months.

The ban on American beef was eased in December, but imposed again in January after prohibited spinal bones were found in a veal shipment, an error by U.S. plant workers and a government inspector who didn't realize veal cuts with backbone eaten in the United States are considered at risk for mad cow disease in Japan.

That error was critical, making consumers even more suspicious about the safety of U.S. meat.

Kaori Watanabe, spokeswoman for Aeon Co., said Japan's top supermarket chain hasn't received a single call from customers asking for American beef. Aeon, which operates more than 300 food stores nationwide, often is deluged with requests for products, so that means there's no interest in American beef, she said.

"We decided against it until there's a situation in which customers can buy it without worrying about it," said Watanabe. Shoppers are more interested these days in organically grown vegetables, she added.

Ichiro Tanaka, spokesman for major supermarket chain Ito-Yokado Co., said he's happy selling Australian and Japanese beef because his about 180 stores stopped carrying American beef three years ago.

"American beef hasn't won the understanding of Japanese consumers," he said. "Consumers don't trust it."

Even the 200 stores in Japan run by Seiyu Ltd., a unit of Bentonville-based retail giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc., aren't selling American beef.

A survey by Tokyo-based marketing researcher Intage earlier this month found 54 percent of respondents said they wouldn't buy American beef. A similar survey in December found 45.4 percent or respondents said they wouldn't buy U.S. beef.

Japanese tend to be suspicious about their own government, and some think the government caved into political pressures from Washington, Japan's No. 1 ally, to let in a possibly tainted product.

American beef, at about $11.70 a pound, is a fraction of the cost of Japanese beef, which can cost 10 times that, because of higher labor costs in Japan and the economies of scale at American farms.

Australian beef competes well in pricing against American beef at about the same prices. The Australian cattle industry has jumped right into the opportunity presented by the stumbling of U.S. beef exporters.

The industry is aggressively promoting the safety of Australian beef, noting Australia never had a case of mad cow disease. Australian cattle ranches have switched to feeding cows grain, instead of grass, to appeal to the Japanese palate for fat-laced meat.

Costco Wholesale Japan Inc., a unit of U.S. warehouse retailer Costco Wholesale Corp., is one exception in pushing American beef.

But Costco appeals to the well-traveled Japanese who buy in bulk -- a minority for an island nation more accustomed to small homes and frequent shopping. Still, Costco's entire 5.1-ton first shipment of U.S. beef sold out within 24 hours. Another batch went on sale a week later and is selling well, according to Costco.

"The response and demand for U.S. beef has been overwhelmingly strong," Costco Wholesale Vice President Mike Sinegal said.

The other high profile enthusiast for U.S. beef is fast-food chain Yoshinoya D&C Co., which made its fortune on the beef bowl, a serving of hot rice topped with slices of American beef.

When the chain announced it would serve its final beef bowl in 2004 because of the import ban, crowds rushed to its outlets to devour American beef. But even Yoshinoya has not yet started selling beef bowls, promising the dish will be back in September.

The Japanese government generally has taken a hands-off approach, although it has organized meetings to answer consumer questions about the scrapping of the ban.

"It's not our job to promote American beef," said Health Ministry official Koji Obayashi. "It's OK if no one buys U.S. beef."
 

Bill

Well-known member
BEEF NEWS
Japan restaurant chain to re-introduce U.S. beef

by Pete Hisey on 8/22/2006 for Meatingplace.com


The Skylark Co., a Japanese sit-down restaurant chain, said it will add steaks from the United States to its menu in 2007.

Kiwamu Yokokawa, chairman of the company, told Asia Pulse that supplies are inadequate this year, but that the chain plans to add U.S. beef next spring "since we have confirmed its safety."

The restaurants will identify the beef as U.S. grown.
 

Mike

Well-known member
Bill, I'm sure the USA will sell some beef in Japan in the future.

The point is.......the USDA is the sole cause of the skepticism in Japan concerning U.S. beef.

The very ones who are supposed to be protecting our industry. :???:
 

Bill

Well-known member
Mike said:
Bill, I'm sure the USA will sell some beef in Japan in the future.

The point is.......the USDA is the sole cause of the skepticism in Japan concerning U.S. beef.

The very ones who are supposed to be protecting our industry. :???:

No USDA is not the sole cause of skepticism in Japan towards US beef.

You can thank R-Calf and their anti-USDA (anti-imports) agenda for a lot of it. Then throw the Japanese mistrust of US foreign policy to complicate it even more.
 

Mike

Well-known member
Bill said:
Mike said:
Bill, I'm sure the USA will sell some beef in Japan in the future.

The point is.......the USDA is the sole cause of the skepticism in Japan concerning U.S. beef.

The very ones who are supposed to be protecting our industry. :???:

No USDA is not the sole cause of skepticism in Japan towards US beef.

You can thank R-Calf and their anti-USDA (anti-imports) agenda for a lot of it. Then throw the Japanese mistrust of US foreign policy to complicate it even more.

Wrong Bill. It's not R-Calf who was in control of testing and feed controls in the U.S.

When the Japs turned the boat around with the Wash. cow on board and the USDA denied Creekstone the furor began to grow.

When J.B. Penn belittled the Japs for having such a stringent BSE protocol, it just put the icing on the cake.

Your hatred for R-Calf is clouding your vision. I am not in the habit of defending R-Calf, but you folks need to look at the bigger picture.
 

Bill

Well-known member
Mike said:
Bill said:
Mike said:
Bill, I'm sure the USA will sell some beef in Japan in the future.

The point is.......the USDA is the sole cause of the skepticism in Japan concerning U.S. beef.

The very ones who are supposed to be protecting our industry. :???:

No USDA is not the sole cause of skepticism in Japan towards US beef.

You can thank R-Calf and their anti-USDA (anti-imports) agenda for a lot of it. Then throw the Japanese mistrust of US foreign policy to complicate it even more.

Wrong Bill. It's not R-Calf who was in control of testing and feed controls in the U.S.

When the Japs turned the boat around with the Wash. cow on board and the USDA denied Creekstone the furor began to grow.

When J.B. Penn belittled the Japs for having such a stringent BSE protocol, it just put the icing on the cake.

Your hatred for R-Calf is clouding your vision. I am not in the habit of defending R-Calf, but you folks need to look at the bigger picture.

And some would argue that the hatred of USDA and the packers is clouding the vision of others.

Do you honestly believe that R-Calf stood with those 2 groups only because of their genuine concern for the safety of the American consumer or do you think there was just a minute chance that keeping out Canadian beef and cattle was at the top of their agenda and they would risk consumer confidence in beef to accomplish this?
 

Sandhusker

Well-known member
Bill, why is it so hard to consider that R-CALF would be concerned about the safety of beef being sold to US consumers in light of the fact that their member's livelihoods depend on that?

BMR, if you're trying to call those groups anti-beef because of the reasons you presented and then trying to tie R-CALF into "anti-beef" groups, you're going to have to put out a whole lot better effort than that! I'd say the strength of that attempt mirrors the strength of your campaign against R-CALF - sad bordering on pathetic. :lol:
 

the chief

Well-known member
Murgen said:
BEEF NEWS
U.S. beef sells out in one day in Japan

http://ranchers.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12211

The Japanese seem to be scrambling to get their hands on it!

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
 

Mike

Well-known member
the chief said:
Murgen said:
BEEF NEWS
U.S. beef sells out in one day in Japan

http://ranchers.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12211

The Japanese seem to be scrambling to get their hands on it!

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Thanks for the laugh chief.
 

Tam

Well-known member
Mike said:
Bill said:
Mike said:
Bill, I'm sure the USA will sell some beef in Japan in the future.

The point is.......the USDA is the sole cause of the skepticism in Japan concerning U.S. beef.

The very ones who are supposed to be protecting our industry. :???:

No USDA is not the sole cause of skepticism in Japan towards US beef.

You can thank R-Calf and their anti-USDA (anti-imports) agenda for a lot of it. Then throw the Japanese mistrust of US foreign policy to complicate it even more.

Wrong Bill. It's not R-Calf who was in control of testing and feed controls in the U.S.

When the Japs turned the boat around with the Wash. cow on board and the USDA denied Creekstone the furor began to grow.

When J.B. Penn belittled the Japs for having such a stringent BSE protocol, it just put the icing on the cake.

Your hatred for R-Calf is clouding your vision. I am not in the habit of defending R-Calf, but you folks need to look at the bigger picture.

Mike Explain this Please if R-CALF is not part of the problem.

Japanese officials tell R-CALF their actions will delay border opening
By James Wiesemeyer

Editor's Note: This column was originally printed March 15 in Inside Washington Today.

R-CALF placed a half-page lobby-type ad in today's Washington Post, thanking the U.S. Senate for passing a resolution (52-46) that would, if it passed the House and was signed into law by President Bush (both unlikely events) do what a district court judge in Billings, Montana (Judge Richard Cebull) has already helped R-CALF accomplish: maintain the closure of the U.S.-Canadian border to live cattle under 30 months of age.

The ad urges the House of Representatives to support the resolution of disapproval "against USDA's weakening of U.S. import standards." The ad was paid for by the Ranchers Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of America (www.r-calfusa.com).It includes R-CALF friendly quotes.

What the ad does not say is what some Japanese officials reportedly told R-CALF in a recent meeting with them, that R-CALF's actions have helped delay the time that it will take Japan to resume imports of American beef. Japanese sources told me that, "R-CALF officials were perplexed when we told them they are part of the problem."

A Japanese official told me the following:

"R-CALF's actions will actually delay the re-opening of the Japanese border. Current actions by [U.S.] Senators and House members have stimulated the Japanese media and Japanese consumer associations to start an opposition campaign. This will delay the internal Japanese review process, especially the risk-communications process for consumers.

"In addition, your (R-CALF) actions are increasing [the U.S.] Congress's frustration and their elevated political pressure on Japan is only complicating the issue opening the Japanese border. Political pressure or interference is not assisting in the normalization of beef products between our two countries.

"When R-CALF points to the risk of Canadian beef, you are increasing Japanese consumers' anxiety for U.S. beef, because we believe the risk of beef from both countries is similar. And if you point to the risk of Canadian cattle, you are ignoring the function of removing SRMs (Specified Risk Materials) as the internationally accepted food safety measure and area also increasing Japanese consumers' anxiety for U.S. beef."

To recap, several Japanese officials told me last week that...

--Japan views the U.S. and Canada as an integrated market and as Japan nears resuming American beef buys, it will be hard to communicate to the Japanese public and definitely Japanese consumer groups if the U.S.-Canadian border is still closed.

--It will be July or August before Japan makes a final decision to resume U.S. beef imports--and that is assuming "no more litigation delays."

--Regulatory comment periods ahead: There are two four-week comment periods coming up via the Japanese regulatory process on this topic. And there is a likely one-month timeline for revision of ministerial ordinances regarding domestic BSE measure. That's nine weeks and does not include the time it will take to issue a final report on the consultations to resume beef trade.

--Powerful Japanese consumer groups must be dealt with: U.S. officials, farm-state lawmakers and farm group representatives continue to underestimate the sensitivity of BSE issues among powerful Japanese consumer groups.

--Political pressure on Japanese officials and agencies is a negative in getting a timeline established regarding resuming American beef shipments. This includes the talk President Bush had last week with Japanese Prime Minister.

--Japanese domestic producers do not benefit from the Japanese import prohibition. Japanese calf prices are at a record high. This has reduced profits for feeders in Japan. If feeders lose economic power, Japanese calf producers will lose their markets. Numerous BBQ restaurants in Japan have closed and that has reduced potential demand for beef in Japan. "Keeping the border closed to U.S. beef is not in the interest of Japanese beef interests," the Japanese officials concluded.

Date: 3/23/05
 

Sandhusker

Well-known member
"A Japanese official"? Who was the official? Was he in the position to know what he was talking about? Was there an actual official?
 

ocm

Well-known member
Tam said:
Mike said:
Bill said:
No USDA is not the sole cause of skepticism in Japan towards US beef.

You can thank R-Calf and their anti-USDA (anti-imports) agenda for a lot of it. Then throw the Japanese mistrust of US foreign policy to complicate it even more.

Wrong Bill. It's not R-Calf who was in control of testing and feed controls in the U.S.

When the Japs turned the boat around with the Wash. cow on board and the USDA denied Creekstone the furor began to grow.

When J.B. Penn belittled the Japs for having such a stringent BSE protocol, it just put the icing on the cake.

Your hatred for R-Calf is clouding your vision. I am not in the habit of defending R-Calf, but you folks need to look at the bigger picture.

Mike Explain this Please if R-CALF is not part of the problem.

Japanese officials tell R-CALF their actions will delay border opening
By James Wiesemeyer

Editor's Note: This column was originally printed March 15 in Inside Washington Today.

R-CALF placed a half-page lobby-type ad in today's Washington Post, thanking the U.S. Senate for passing a resolution (52-46) that would, if it passed the House and was signed into law by President Bush (both unlikely events) do what a district court judge in Billings, Montana (Judge Richard Cebull) has already helped R-CALF accomplish: maintain the closure of the U.S.-Canadian border to live cattle under 30 months of age.

The ad urges the House of Representatives to support the resolution of disapproval "against USDA's weakening of U.S. import standards." The ad was paid for by the Ranchers Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of America (www.r-calfusa.com).It includes R-CALF friendly quotes.

What the ad does not say is what some Japanese officials reportedly told R-CALF in a recent meeting with them, that R-CALF's actions have helped delay the time that it will take Japan to resume imports of American beef. Japanese sources told me that, "R-CALF officials were perplexed when we told them they are part of the problem."

A Japanese official told me the following:

"R-CALF's actions will actually delay the re-opening of the Japanese border. Current actions by [U.S.] Senators and House members have stimulated the Japanese media and Japanese consumer associations to start an opposition campaign. This will delay the internal Japanese review process, especially the risk-communications process for consumers.

"In addition, your (R-CALF) actions are increasing [the U.S.] Congress's frustration and their elevated political pressure on Japan is only complicating the issue opening the Japanese border. Political pressure or interference is not assisting in the normalization of beef products between our two countries.

"When R-CALF points to the risk of Canadian beef, you are increasing Japanese consumers' anxiety for U.S. beef, because we believe the risk of beef from both countries is similar. And if you point to the risk of Canadian cattle, you are ignoring the function of removing SRMs (Specified Risk Materials) as the internationally accepted food safety measure and area also increasing Japanese consumers' anxiety for U.S. beef."

To recap, several Japanese officials told me last week that...

--Japan views the U.S. and Canada as an integrated market and as Japan nears resuming American beef buys, it will be hard to communicate to the Japanese public and definitely Japanese consumer groups if the U.S.-Canadian border is still closed.

--It will be July or August before Japan makes a final decision to resume U.S. beef imports--and that is assuming "no more litigation delays."

--Regulatory comment periods ahead: There are two four-week comment periods coming up via the Japanese regulatory process on this topic. And there is a likely one-month timeline for revision of ministerial ordinances regarding domestic BSE measure. That's nine weeks and does not include the time it will take to issue a final report on the consultations to resume beef trade.

--Powerful Japanese consumer groups must be dealt with: U.S. officials, farm-state lawmakers and farm group representatives continue to underestimate the sensitivity of BSE issues among powerful Japanese consumer groups.

--Political pressure on Japanese officials and agencies is a negative in getting a timeline established regarding resuming American beef shipments. This includes the talk President Bush had last week with Japanese Prime Minister.

--Japanese domestic producers do not benefit from the Japanese import prohibition. Japanese calf prices are at a record high. This has reduced profits for feeders in Japan. If feeders lose economic power, Japanese calf producers will lose their markets. Numerous BBQ restaurants in Japan have closed and that has reduced potential demand for beef in Japan. "Keeping the border closed to U.S. beef is not in the interest of Japanese beef interests," the Japanese officials concluded.

Date: 3/23/05

I remember this when it came out. It turned out the "Japanese official" was not part of the Japanese government and wasn't not even from Japan. This was overall a very misleading story on several points.
 

Tam

Well-known member
Can any of you verify the person that James W. spoke to was not an Japanese official? I would think that if this article was published, the paper would had made sure of the story BEFORE running it. If this story was not true, did R-CALF sue, Inside Washington Today for running it or James for naming them in it. We all know how they like to take people to court and this one if they had proved it to be false could have financed some of their other court cases. :wink:
 

ocm

Well-known member
Tam said:
Can any of you verify the person that James W. spoke to was not an Japanese official? I would think that if this article was published, the paper would had made sure of the story BEFORE running it. If this story was not true, did R-CALF sue, Inside Washington Today for running it or James for naming them in it. We all know how they like to take people to court and this one if they had proved it to be false could have financed some of their other court cases. :wink:

Now you're beginning to sound like ~SH~

Events both prior and subsequent to this article have shown that the Japanese (and don't forget the Koreans) don't want US beef comingled with Canadian beef. So how would us letting Canadian beef in get us trading with Japan. It didn't happen that way, which confirms that the statement was false.
Did Japan fling the doors open as soon as the US did to Canada. Huh, Tam.
 

Tam

Well-known member
ocm said:
Tam said:
Can any of you verify the person that James W. spoke to was not an Japanese official? I would think that if this article was published, the paper would had made sure of the story BEFORE running it. If this story was not true, did R-CALF sue, Inside Washington Today for running it or James for naming them in it. We all know how they like to take people to court and this one if they had proved it to be false could have financed some of their other court cases. :wink:

Now you're beginning to sound like ~SH~

I didn't ask for name calling ocm, I asked if you had proof that the man that James talk to was not a Japanese offical? and if R-CALF felt the story was false why didn't they sue God knows they have enough lawyers on call to handle a liable case.
 

Mike

Well-known member
--Powerful Japanese consumer groups must be dealt with: U.S. officials, farm-state lawmakers and farm group representatives continue to underestimate the sensitivity of BSE issues among powerful Japanese consumer groups.

--Political pressure on Japanese officials and agencies is a negative in getting a timeline established regarding resuming American beef shipments. This includes the talk President Bush had last week with Japanese Prime Minister.

Thanks for REITERATINGmy position Tam.

There may well be some things that R-Calf has said that has not helped in gaining consumer confidence in Japan. I dunno..........

But the USDA are the ones in charge of negotiations with the Japs and have failed miserably.

Plus the fact that they screwed up the Texas cow testing fiasco. Want to blame R-Calf for that one too? :roll: :???: :lol: :shock: :lol:


A LIABLE CASE??????????

You've got me rolling this morning!! :lol: :lol:
 
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