May 13, 2004

Japan, U.S. To Discuss Beef Ban

Japan and the United States will hold a first meeting of a joint technical working group next Tuesday and Wednesday in Tokyo. They will be discussing Japan's ban on U.S. beef imports because of mad cow disease, the U.S. Agriculture Department said Wednesday.

The two countries agreed in April to form a joint technical working group of experts, and make efforts to reach a conclusion by the summer on whether Japan will reopen its beef market to U.S. producers.