Rehberg Proposes Japan Trade Tariffs in Response to Closed Beef Market

Rehberg Proposes Japan Trade Tariffs in Response to Closed Beef Market

In the wake of Japans' refusal to reopen its markets to U.S. beef, Montana's Congressman, Denny Rehberg, introduced legislation proposing trade tariffs on Japanese products sold in the U.S. The tariffs will go into effect if Japan doesn't begin importing U.S. beef again by August 31.

"I'm all for free trade, but it also has to be fair trade," said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. "Japan's refusal to lift its ban on U.S. beef has cost American beef producers almost $7 billion over the past three years. Enough is enough. It's time to come to the table and lift this senseless embargo."

Rehberg's bill would direct the Treasury to impose tariffs totaling $3.1 billion on Japanese products being sold in the U.S. if the ban on American beef isn't lifted. The Japanese government said yesterday it would begin inspecting U.S. meat processing plants this weekend and will begin taking shipments of U.S. beef again if no problems are discovered during inspections. Japan was the largest market for U.S. beef producers until the embargo.

"I'm still a little skeptical because we've been down this road before with Japan," said Rehberg. "They've said they'll lift the ban and it hasn't happened. Montana's ranchers deserve access to this market again and I'm going to fight to help them get Montana beef back to Japan."

http://www.house.gov/list/press/mt00_rehberg/062206_JapanBeefTariffs.html