January 20, 2005

Japan may resume US beef imports soon

Japan and the United States are expected to hold high-level talks in February aimed at striking an accord to lift Japan's ban on US beef imports over mad cow disease.

According to Japanese government sources, if the two countries perform procedures without any delay, the United States could resume exporting beef to Japan in early summer. However the amount would be up to 35 percent of what it used to ship before the ban.

The head of a Japanese government panel had earlier welcomed a US offer to provide strict verification of the age of cattle, moving the two sides toward a conclusion of talks on the issue.

The two countries will discuss details on preparations for resuming beef trade at a working-level meeting scheduled for Thursday, the sources said.

The conclusion of the bilateral talks is expected to clear the way for Japan to lift its ban on US beef imports, which has been in place since December 2003 after the first case of mad cow disease was found in a Canadian-born cow in the state of Washington.