US senators on Thursday (May 27) introduced a draft resolution urging Japan, China and some other economies to provide full market access to all US beef products.

China bans all beef imports from the US while Japan and others set age limits on cows whose beef can be imported, even though US beef has been confirmed safe by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), according to the resolution.

In 2003, US beef exports to these economies were valued at more than US$3 billion, but exports have since declined sharply, causing significant revenue losses for cattle producers, the draft said.

The resolution also calls on US President Barack Obama to press these economies to fully open their markets to US beef.

The remaining economies named in the resolution are South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Mexico and Vietnam.