U.S. Senator Ken Salazar Member: Agriculture, Energy, Veterans' Affairs, Ethics and Aging Committees 2300 15^th Street, Suite 450 Denver, CO 80202 | 702 Hart Senate Building, Washington, D.C. 20510
For Immediate Release July 27 2006		CONTACT: Cody Wertz – Comm. Director 303-455-7600 Andrew Nannis – Press Secretary 202-224-5852
Sen. Salazar Pleased with Japan’s First Step Moo-ving Towards Lifting the Beef Embargo WASHINGTON, D.C. – United States Senator Ken Salazar today applauded Japan’s decision today to lift the beef embargo for most U.S. producers and for cattle 20 months and younger. Senator Salazar cautioned, however, that the remaining Japanese restrictions to importing U.S. beef must be lifted soon. “I am pleased that Japan has been reassured that U.S. beef is the safest in the world,” said Senator Salazar. “U.S. beef producers have gone out of their way over the last few months to provide clear, scientific evidence that their product is safe. Now that this major hurdle has been cleared, I am hopeful that Japan will lift the embargo on the remaining U.S. suppliers and allow shipments of older cattle to enter Japan. The free trade of U.S. beef is essential to our ranchers in Colorado and across the country.” Ranchers in Colorado and across America have waited more than two years to once again have free and fair access to the Japanese beef market. During that same time, the U.S. beef industry has lost over $6 billion in revenue because of Japan’s refusal to open its markets to safe American beef exports. # # #