July 8, 2005

Canada calls on Japan to resume beef imports

Canada has urged Japan to look into resuming Canadian beef imports in the shortest time possible. Japan's Prime Minister Koizumi, responded equivocally that Tokyo would proceed with its scientific study on the matter.

Japan halted imports of Canadian cattle and beef after mad cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy, was found in May 2003 in Canada. Leaders of the two nations met shortly before the start of an annual summit of the Group of Eight nations in Gleneagles, Scotland.