Allard Asks President Bush To Help Open Beef Trade With Japan

Press Release

ALLARD ASKS PRESIDENT BUSH TO HELP OPEN BEEF TRADE WITH JAPAN

U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard (R-Colo.) announced today that he has joined a bipartisan group of his fellow Senators in sending a letter to President Bush asking that he continue to support American ranchers and press Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on expanding market access for U.S. beef.

"As I have said many times before, we must take a strong stance in support of American beef," said Allard. "Not only has the scientific community repeatedly asserted that our beef is safe, consumers worldwide continue to clamor for our product. Japan is an important market for American producers; the 20 month age restriction presents an unnecessary and unscientific barrier to trade and I am hopeful that we can convince Prime Minister Abe that it is time to allow full market access for U.S. beef."

Last summer, after pressure from Allard and other U.S. officials, Japan reopened their markets to limited U.S. beef products. Under the current agreement, packing plants are able to ship boneless beef from animals that are under 20 months of age. Japan originally restricted the import of beef from the United States in December of 2003 following the discovery of a single case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), or Mad Cow Disease, broke out in the United States. Prior to the border closure, Japan was the largest importer of American beef, with imports totaling 1.4 billion dollars in 2003.

Allard has been one of the most outspoken supporters of beef produced in the United States and has continually pressed the Japanese to reconsider their merit-less market restrictions, meeting with Japanese Ambassador Ryozo Kato to discuss this important trade issue on several occasions. Allard has also encouraged President Bush and Secretary of State Rice to make full access to the Japanese border one of their top trade priorities.

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