Japanese Trade Talks Look for Answers

Rumors of a breakthrough in resuming beef trade with Japan failed to materialize Sept. 21 as President Bush and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi met in New York.  While no final deal was struck, both sides reported that they were making progress in trade talks and would continue working on the issue.  Japan was the largest export market for U.S. beef prior to the Dec. 23 discovery of BSE in Washington state.  Trade was worth about $1.4 billion a year.

Negotiators from both sides met in Fort Collins, Colo., on Oct. 4-5 to continue the talks.  Speculation for resuming trade revolves around what age cattle will be acceptable for supplying beef to Japan, and the method of determining that age. 

NCBA maintains that the final goal of any trade agreement must be to return to the trade environment of Dec. 22, when all U.S. beef was acceptable.  Reports from Japan say that the Japanese government was considering allowing beef from cattle under 20 months of age.  Under this requirement, about 80 percent of U.S. cattle would qualify for export.

The Sept. 21 meeting was held as the Japanese government received a letter from 2,335 businesses, groups and 409 unions in its own country calling for the end of the beef ban.

Japan Sept. 14 confirmed its 12th case of BSE since finding the disease in 2001.