WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, a senior member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today called on Japan to once again, re-open its markets to U.S. beef.

Today, in an Executive Session of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Senator Roberts urged the Japanese Ambassador to the United States Ryozo Kato to resume beef trade immediately. Since January, Japan has maintained an embargo on U.S. beef imports after the discovery of spinal cord material in a single shipment of U.S. beef.

“Japan’s refusal to reach a reasonable compromise to end the embargo on U.S. beef is unjustifiable,” Senator Roberts said. “We have taken all necessary steps to ensure the safety of American beef. It is now time for Japan to set a date to resume purchasing U.S. beef.”

“Successful international trade hinges upon the commitment of the participating countries to uphold the principles of free trade – and that means abiding by international science standards,” Senator Roberts said. “If Japan chooses to continue this policy of politics over science, we will have no choice but to introduce new legislation.”

Yesterday, Senator Roberts joined over 20 other Senators in sending a letter to Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi calling for the immediate resumption of beef trade. The group also sent a similar letter to the Korean Ambassador.

In the letters the Senators said, “The Government of Japan’s arbitrary trade constriction has perpetuated severe economic consequences for a very important segment of our agricultural sector.” The letter went further to ask the Prime Minister to reestablish beef trade prior to his June visit to the U.S.

In October of last year, Senator Roberts and Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND) introduced legislation to impose tariffs on Japanese products for their failure to reopen the Japanese market to U.S. beef. The border was re-opened that December.