12/09/05 Finally Japan?

It could be as early as Monday that the Japanese government finally makes the announcement that the U.S. beef industry has been waiting to hear for almost two years. U.S. beef will be allowed back into Japan. All indications this week have pointed in that direction. It started when the Japanese ambassador to the U.S. reported told a delegation from the American Meat Institute earlier in the week that their market would resume U.S. beef imports soon. A.M.I 's Tom Hodges gives the specifics of what was said. HODGES: He conveyed the same kinds of sentiments that we have been hearing from U.S.D.A. and our other trade negotiators in our U.S. government that barring some kind of problem, that it's possible that we'll have at least a partial market opening in mid-December or at least by the end of the year. Similar expectations were announced by groups like the National Cattlemen's Beef Association and U.S. Meat Export Council. But the U.S. government, even now, has not commented on the potential re-opening, at least not directly. For example, as the Japan reopening buzz spread this week, U.S.D.A. Secretary Mike Johanns would only say this... JOHANNS: We're at a point here that I can tell you I believe its paying off and soon to pay off. That work with the Japanese government and painstaking at times, and you saw my comments, painstakingly slow, I do believe the end is in sight, here. U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman was also mum even as he met with Japanese trade officials in Seattle earlier this week, saying only beef remained the top U.S. issue. However, the biggest indicator that export of U.S. beef to Japan could soon resume was yesterday's decision by Japan's Food Safety Commission to allow product on a limited scale. That means beef from cattle twenty months of age or younger according to news reports. The Health and Agriculture Ministries still must make a recommendation but are expected to go along with the F.S.C. findings. That could mean U.S. beef products could be back in Japan as early as Christmas. But Johanns is quick to point out U.S. beef producers have their work cut out for them. As condition of re-entry, Japan will require product to have a paper trail from birth to slaughter and beyond, and require producers to participate in a U.S. export verification program. In addition, U.S. inspectors much verify b.s.e. risk materials & spinal cords and brains & be removed from beef product. But despite the conditions, Johanns says the U.S. beef industry is more than anxious to work with Japan throughout the process.