December 4, 2013
Enda Kenny, the prime minister of the Republic of Ireland, has just begun a five-day visit to Japan during which he will negotiate the resumption of Irish beef exports to the Japanese market.
Irish beef exports to Japan were worth about US$13.5 million before a ban was imposed due the BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) epidemic in 2000. Sources close to Kenny's delegation said that they expect the trade with Japan to recover quickly.
Kenny is accompanied by Irish Agriculture Minister, Simon Coveney. His visit will include meetings with Japanese Prime Minster Shinzo Abe and Crown Prince Naruhito. The Irish leader's trip is the first to Japan by a Irish prime minister since 2009 and it is understood that an announcement on a multi-million beef deal will be made following his meeting with the prime minister. Japanese beef imports have increased by 14% from 2008 to 2013. Speaking as he arrived in Tokyo, Kenny described a potential beef deal with Japan as "more high-value than high-volume," he said.
