U.S.
Senator Member of the Agriculture, Energy and Veterans Affairs
Committees |
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For Immediate
Release May 24, 2005 |
CONTACT: Cody Wertz – Press Secretary 202-228-3630 Jen Clanahan – Deputy Press Secretary 303-455-7600 |
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SEN. SALAZAR "CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC" ON LIFTING OF AMERICAN BEEF IMPORT BAN BY JAPAN
WASHINGTON, D.C. – United States Senator Ken Salazar today applauded the move by the Japanese government to explore reopening its borders to U.S. beef imports. Media reports today indicated that the Japanese Ministries of Agriculture and Health ministries have instructed its Food Safety Commission to start examining the possibility of reopening Japan's borders to American beef imports. “This study is a good first step by the Japanese government and a sign that the Japanese ban may be coming to an end. I am cautiously optimistic, but I will not be satisfied until Japan fully reopens its markets to U.S. beef,” Senator Salazar said. The directive to the Food Safety Commission comes after Senator Salazar, on behalf of ranchers in Colorado and across the country, worked to pressure the Japanese government to reopen their borders to American beef. On March 11, Senator Salazar, Senator Allard and a bipartisan group of Senators met with the Ambassador of Japan His Excellency Ryozo Kato to pressure him for a timeline for reopening Japanese markets to American beef imports. Senator Salazar also asked Ambassador Kato in a letter the following week for a written explanation of the Japanese government’s process for reopening its borders. In addition, Senator Salazar also sought to help Colorado and U.S. ranchers by pressing American officials abroad as well. In March, Senator Salazar wrote to Mr. Michael W. Michalak, the Charge d'Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, Japan to inquire about steps taken by him to reopen the Japanese beef market and what tools had been successful in promoting U.S. beef exports. While officials in the Japanese
government refused to provide a specific timetable for the Food Safety
Commission’s actions, Japanese media reports indicated that the ban
could be lifted as early as this summer. Japan was the largest importer
of U.S. beef in the world until it closed its markets to American beef
in December 2003. The closure of the Japanese market to American beef
has had a significant impact on Colorado’s agricultural industry. Colorado
is the fifth largest agricultural exporting state of live animals and
meat. # # # |
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