Beef Exports To Japan

Beef Exports To Japan. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Line On Agriculture.

Exports have been given some good news recently. First China has open the doors to all U.S. pears and now we get the news that Japan has eased the export restrictions on beef from the U.S.

VILSACK: This week has brought especially good news for America’s beef producers. This is the result of a focused effort and we expect this deal to generate an additional half billion dollars for the U.S. economy over the coming years. And 2013 is off to a roaring start with agricultural exports on track to set a new record.

Ag Secretary Vilsack making the announcement. What changed is that now Japan is accepting beef under the age of 30 months instead of the 20 months after a 2003 case of BSE was discovered. USDA’s Economist Shayle Shagam talks about what to expect.

SHAGAM: There are some limiting factors that will probably initially limit our ability to grow. We have seen a decline in beef production so the Japanese will be beating against U.S. consumers, against foreign consumers for the product. They desire that product and they are willing to pay more than a lot of other countries in the rest of the world so in terms of our ability to expand our sales to Japan, that bodes well.

And from the Chief Agricultural Negotiator for the US Trade Representative's Office, Issi Siddiqui.

SIDDIQUI: Japan was out number one export market prior to the finding of BSE in 2003 and because of the find in Washington State, exports were affected in Japan - partially opened the market for U.S. beef exports and those were limited beef and beef products from animals 20 months and under. So todays announcement is a significant announcement and we welcome this expansion of the U.S beef exports to raising the age limits to under 30 months.

That’s today’s Line On Agriculture. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.