Beef Trade with Japan

From the Billings Gazette: "The cattle industry is hailing Japan's decision to resume limited beef shipments from the United States, nearly two years after a case of mad cow disease in this country halted the lucrative trade.

"But the government's plan to also lift its ban on beef from Japan - a country that's reported 21 cases of mad cow disease, compared to the United States' two - was viewed more cautiously and even skeptically, by some."

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) website links to numerous pieces of information on the mutual lifting of importation restrictions on American and Japanese beef.

USDA Amends Regulations Governing The Importation Of Whole Cuts Of Boneless Beef From Japan (press release)

Questions and Answers: The Importation of Boneless Beef from Japan

Statement By Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns Regarding The Opening Of The Japanese Market To U.S. Beef (Audio also available)

Transcript of Remarks by Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns and United States Trade Representative Ambassador Rob Portman Hong Kong (Audio also available)

Other government sources may provide useful background information:

Technical Information for the Resumption of Beef Trade with Japan (USDA)

Office of the United States Trade Representative

Negotiations, implementation and development: the Doha agenda (World Trade Organization)

Baucus: Beef Dispute with Japan Not Over Yet

Sources: "Cattle industry pleased with Japan's decision on U.S. beef." Billings Gazette December 12, 2005.
"Japan Partly Lifts Ban on Imports of U.S. Beef, Easing Trade Dispute." New York Times December 12, 2005.