| WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Jerry Moran today announced he is hosting Japanese media later this week in Kansas to discuss Japan reopening its borders to U.S. beef. The Japanese markets have been closed to U.S. beef since the discovery of a single case of BSE in a Canadian dairy cow.
“I am eager to meet with the Japanese media in order to relay the message to their audience that our beef is safe,” Moran said. “It’s time for Japan to abide by their previous agreement to reopen their borders to U.S. beef.”
During the visit, Japanese media will tour a cattle ranch in Wabaunsee County and meet with Kansas ranchers as well as representatives from extension and the veterinarian college at Kansas State University. Following the tour, the group will enjoy a lunch of Kansas beef in Maple Hill.
Since the Japanese border closed, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has implemented additional safety checks in the beef system to guarantee the safety of American beef. The result is that U.S. standards now exceed international beef safety standards. The steps by USDA were taken to fulfill an agreement Japan reached with U.S. trade negotiators in October 2004. Despite USDA’s steps to significantly enhance safety checks and standards, the Japanese border remains closed.
In March, Moran introduced a resolution calling for immediate sanctions to be used against Japan if it fails to abide by its October agreement to reopen its border. Since Japan closed its markets to U.S. beef in December 2003, the U.S. has lost more than $2 billion in sales.
For more information, contact Congressman Moran at (202) 225-2715 or visit his web page at www.house.gov/moranks01/.
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