07/18/05 Japan warned about congress and beef

American Rancher July 18, 2005 Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns says the USDA is moving as expeditiously as possible to get shipments to the U.S. resumed of live Canadian cattle under 30 months of age. A federal appellate court cleared the way for Canadian cattle late last week and Johanns told reporters Friday that it's possible animals could be coming across the border this week. Live Canadian cattle have been banned in the U.S. since a case of BSE in Canada in May of 2003 but the Canadians have said there is no wall of cattle that will flood the U.S.. Still, there is more pressure now to get export markets like Japan reopened for U.S. beef. And Secretary Johanns says he warned the Japanese last week about attitudes in congress. Johanns: "What I explained to the Japanese minister was that I believe that congress has been patient in the hopes that this process was logically, thoughtfully, moving forward on Japan's part. I also explained to him that from my vantage point that they were very, very busy between now and the August recess, but after they return from the August recess attention may again return to whether or not beef is moving into the Japan marketplace." U.S. cattle futures posted sharp, but not limit down losses Friday. I'm Bob Hoff.