June 21, 2006

 

Japan sends conflicting signals on re-opening of US beef trade

 

 

Japanese and US government officials are resuming talks on reopening Japan's market to US beef Wednesday after a failure to reach an agreement (Jun 20) even as a major Japanese newspaper said it was a done deal.

 

While Japanese officials gave no reason for the failure to reach an agreement, there were indications a deal was close earlier.

 

Both sides would like to clear up the issue before Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's Washington visit at the end of the month.

 

As part of Japan's proposed deal, Japanese agricultural and health ministry officials were to be given rights to inspect all 35 processing plants authorised by the US government to export to Japan.

 

The United States was also going to be asked to conduct surprise inspections and to allow Japanese officials to tag along. There would also be tightened checks of US beef shipments upon arrival.

 

Japanese opposition parties and consumer groups have opposed resumption, saying Japan had yielded out of fear of trade retaliation and had ignored public concerns about the safety of US beef.

 

Nearly 100 demonstrators and opposition lawmakers gathered Tuesday in Tokyo to oppose the lifting of the ban, Kyodo news agency reported.

 

Safety inspection by Japan at US meatpacking plants is superficial, said Yasuaki Yamaura, vice chairman of the Consumers Union of Japan.

 

Meanwhile, the Kyodo News Agency reported the two countries have agreed on strengthened US safeguard measures against mad cow disease.

 

US beef could re-enter the Japanese market as soon as mid-July, according to the Kyodo News Agency report.