US to lift ban on beef imports from Japan

[CornField]

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-12/12/content_3912740.htm

The United States will resume beef imports from Japan, the Agriculture Department's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced Monday.

The announcement came shortly after Japan said it was lifting its own two-year ban on US beef.

"After conducting a thorough risk analysis, APHIS has determined that such beef can be safely imported to the United States from Japan (under certain conditions)," said the announcement.

...

In September 2001, the United States banned beef imports from Japan after the Asian country had reported bovine spongiform encephalopathy(BSE), or mad-cow disease, in a herd. Japan banned US beef imports over a BSE case in the United States in December 2003.

[Fenris]

1. Funny.

The Japanese are now inspecting every head of cattle they slaughter for BSE and other diseases. The US considers such consumer safety steps an undue burden on agribusiness. :eyes:

[madrchsod]

2. the price they get for their beef

they can afford to,it`s the most expensive beef in the world

[Hypatia82]

3. That's only Kobe beef...

which is stuff that people, myself included, go ga-ga over. Cows are fed a special diet, including beer, and massaged daily. Regular Japanese beef is a bit pricey but it's Kobe beef that's up there.

[Tempest]

4. I don't get it

Why are we importing beef at a time when the U.S. has a negative food trade balance and American beef growers are exporting?

It just doesn't make sense.