Herseth for Congress

U.S. beef ban news taken with caution
By Andrea J. Cook, Journal Staff Writer
June 22, 2006

WASHINGTON - Until ships carrying American beef are on their way, it's too soon to count on U.S. beef returning to Japanese grocery stores, Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., said Wednesday.

Japanese and U.S. officials announced Wednesday that the ban will be lifted if Japanese inspectors are satisfied with inspections of American packing plants.

"The announcement may be helpful, but they have always found ways to slow down the action in the past," Johnson said in a phone interview. "I don't think we can rest easily until we see beef moving in ships to Japan."

Johnson isn't the only one with doubts about Japan reopening its markets to U.S. beef.

Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., and Rep. Stephanie Herseth, D-S.D., cautiously welcomed the news that trade is about to resume.

"This is an encouraging and positive development and represents another step towards resuming beef trade with Japan," Herseth said.

Thune said he hopes that trade with Japan will continue steadily without any further disruptions.

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association issued a written statement Wednesday supporting bipartisan legislation introduced by Sens. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., and Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and co-sponsored by Johnson, calling for tariffs on Japanese products if Japan does not reopen its domestic market to U.S. beef by the end of August.

Mike Stahly of Cavour, president of the South Dakota Cattlemen's Association, which is affiliated with NCBA, said delays in resumption of trade with Japan have already cost U.S. producers. "Experience has taught us that Japan is an unreliable trading partner, and we hope that this will truly mean access to this market for South Dakota cattlemen," Stahly said.

Japan's embargo of American beef has cost the U.S. beef industry about $6 billion since December of 2003, according to NCBA president Mike John.

Japan halted imports of U.S. beef in December 2003, after bovine spongiform encephalopathy was discovered in a Washington state cow that originated in Canada.

Japan and the U.S. agreed upon a process to resume beef imports in October 2004, but that agreement took more than a year to implement, Johnson said.

"We've had a lot of promises from Japan," Johnson said. Japan has found ways to slow down imports of American beef in the past, he said.

Japan stopped beef imports again in January after a piece of backbone was found in a piece of veal shipped to Japan.

The United States has implemented BSE prevention measures meeting or exceeding international standards, Johnson said.

"At this point, there is absolutely no legitimate reason for Japan's reckless, continued embargo on U.S. beef," Johnson said. "Japan wants us to import their goods, but this needs to work both ways."

The bipartisan legislation will help keep the pressure on Japan, he said.

Although Johnson and others are counting on tariffs to expedite the reopening of the Japanese market, South Dakota secretary of agriculture Larry Gabriel says that calling for tariffs could be a "two-edged sword."

Gabriel says he isn't an expert on U.S.-Japanese trade relations, but during a 2005 visit to Japan, he was told that "that kind of talk works both ways."

"It may help, and it may hinder," Gabriel said.

Gabriel said he had been frustrated by Japan's attitude and the slow progress made in reopening the market.

"To get our market share back for U.S. beef is going to take some time," he said.

Gabriel said Japan's reluctance to open its borders to U.S. beef is another argument for programs such as South Dakota Certified Beef.

South Dakota's program and other programs that producers can use to verify the source and age of their beef will help keep the market flowing, Gabriel said.

"They will be much more marketable in Japan and South Korea than just regular USDA beef," Gabriel said.

Contact Andrea Cook at 394-8423 or andrea.cook@rapidcityjournal.com

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