October 17, 2006

US wants to expand Japan's beef market rather than fight for it

The United States beef industry would try to expand the Japanese beef market, instead of taking market share from Australia, president of the US National Cattlemen's Beef Association, Mike John said at a conference of beef producers in Australia.

Beef producers from five nations: US, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand and Australia are in the country for the annual five nation beef talks.

John said it is not a competitive issue where the beef comes from but the crux of the issue is that beef consumption is down in Japan.

The industry needs to work together to prop up demand so as to benefit collectively from it, John added.