10/28/05 Pressing Japan to allow US beef imports

Idaho Senators Larry Craig and Mike Crapo are co-sponsors of legislation that encourages Japan to reopen its borders to U.S. beef by the end of the year or face tariffs on its imports. Although the Japanese and US governments reached an agreement to reopen Japanese markets, the ban is still in effect two years after one Washington state cow tested positive for BSE. KNIGHT "Its extremely frustrating that Japan continues to block us by telling us our product is unsafe. Its just wrong. They're playing games with us." Lloyd Knight of the Idaho Cattle Association says the ban impacts Gem State producers. Agri-Beef's Rick Stott says his company lost one of its important markets. STOTT "We had about almost 20 percent of our sales revenue that was going to Japan. We had great relationships. Washington Beef was owned by a Japanese market before we bought it." Stott says it's going to be tough to regain the Japanese market when the ban is lifted because Australia has filled that void. STOTT "They believe they have about a three to five year window before the US would really be able to reestablish our position in the Asian market." Stott agrees with that, saying it's going to take time to reestablish trust with Japan in addition to answering their questions about a range of issues including some that have no answers yet, like country of origin labeling. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott