Japan could resume beef imports in “weeks”: Johanns

By Christopher Doering

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – As part of a U.S.-Japan agreement to
restore beef trade, Tokyo could reject individual shipments,
rather than cutting off trade altogether, as a safeguard
against mad cow disease, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike
Johanns said on Wednesday.

Japan’s January 20 suspension of U.S. beef imports came
after it discovered banned spinal material in a shipment of
veal from New York. U.S. farm groups have since complained
Tokyo’s response was overblown.

After two video-conference sessions, U.S. and Japanese
officials have agreed to re-start trade after Japan inspects
three dozen U.S. beef export plants to assure they followed
beef safety rules.

“I don’t believe that we are months away,” Johanns told
reporters. “I think it’s more likely that we are weeks away
from (U.S.) beef being back in Japan.”

According to a summary of the agreement, if Japan finds
shortcomings in future U.S. shipments, it “will take
appropriate action commensurate with the nature of the
violation.”

Johanns said that could mean rejection of individual
shipments and prevent minor issues from cutting off trade.

“There has to be a better way of trading than to close the
whole border if there is a problem,” said Johanns. “We don’t
close the whole border to Japanese automobiles if we have a
recall.”

A spokesman for the largest U.S. ranch group, the National
Cattlemen’s Beef Association, said the language was not
ironclad, so another shut-down was possible. Japan has banned
U.S. beef for 28 of the past 29 months.

Meatpackers and lawmakers emphasized that Japan must open
its market promptly because U.S. precautions assure its beef is
safe to eat. The American Meat Institute said “the vast
majority of U.S. beef” will be ineligible for sale because
Japan accepts beef only from cattle aged 20 months or less.

Half a dozen senators from farm and ranch states unveiled
legislation for $3 billion a year in sanctions against Japan
unless sales resume by August 31. At least one senator has said
the language could be added to an agricultural spending bill
being drafted this week.

“Our goal is resumption of trade — not promises that trade
may resume,” said sponsor Kent Conrad, a North Dakota Democrat.
“We’ve had promises before that have turned up empty.”

Japanese inspectors will begin their tours of U.S. beef
processing plants this weekend, Johanns said, with audits to be
completed by July 21. Japan has agreed to resume beef trade
with the United States after the audits are completed.

“I want to be very realistic about this. We still have a
ways to go,” said Johanns.

The longtime No. 1 market for U.S. beef, Japan lifted a
two-year ban on U.S. beef imports last December only to shut
down its markets again a month later after its inspectors
discovered banned spinal column parts in a veal shipment from
New York.

In 2003, Japan imported an estimated $1.4 billion of U.S.
beef.

The United States has struggled to restore beef exports to
overseas markets, including South Korea and Japan, which
totaled $3.8 billion annually before mad cow was first
discovered in Washington state in December 2003.

South Korea has agreed to accept beef from older cattle
than Japan but will bar bone-in cuts, which used to be half of
its purchases.

(Additional reporting by Charles Abbott)