Rehberg Sees Resumption of Japan Beef Trade

Rehberg Sees Resumption of Japan Beef Trade
Feb. 16, 2005

WASHINGTON, DC -- Montana's Congressman, Denny Rehberg ®, today predicted Japan will resume beef trade with the U.S., but the U.S. border with Canada should remain closed for now. "I think all of us are focused on the effort to delay next month's scheduled opening of the border," Rehberg said of USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) plans to resume Canadian beef imports, effective March 7.

"Recently, I made a strong case with then-Agriculture Secretary Veneman, to not open the border until several things occurred. First, let's have a testing protocol in place that would protect our producers and consumers from Canadian BSE. Second, I said, we need a nearly-simultaneous reopening of trade with Japan and Korea. She didn't get it."

In a two-hour discussion with President Bush aboard Air Force One earlier this month, Rehberg urged a delay in the resumption beef imports with Canada, which recently announced two more BSE discoveries.

"We have a new Ag Secretary, who has shown a willingness to listen to our concerns that the way in which we handle our trade with Canada has a direct impact on our efforts to reestablish beef trade with Japan and Korea," Rehberg said of Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, who last week announced his agency will keep the border closed to older Canadian cattle.

"This month, I contacted Japanese Ambassador Ryozo Kato, calling on Japan to recognize our testing and safety precautions, and resume beef trade with the United States. He responded that Japan is on course to lift the ban on beef trade, perhaps as early as this summer. That is great news, and I applaud their decision," Rehberg, a Billings rancher, said.

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/mt00_rehberg/021605_JapanBeefTrade.html