WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts joined Senator Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) and others in calling on President Obama to address beef trade during his meeting later this week with Japanese Prime Minister, Naoto Kan.
         
 The following is the text of the letter the Senators sent to the President:

 “We write to ask that you include the issue of beef trade on the agenda for your meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan later this week.  

“As you know, Japan closed its market to U.S. beef in December of 2003, after the discovery of one cow infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in the United States. At that time, Japan was the largest export market for U.S. beef, valued at $1.4 billion. 

“Since then, Japan has had restrictions in place on U.S. beef imports, and currently only allows imports of beef from cattle aged 20 months and younger. These restrictions are not based on sound science nor are they consistent with international guidelines. The United States has spent years putting in place an effective system of interlocking safeguards that has led to the virtual elimination of BSE in our country. Because of these efforts, the U.S. has been classified as a controlled risk country by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), which indicates that U.S. beef products are completely safe for export and consumption. 

“Japan and the U.S. share an important friendship and trade relationship, and we were pleased to see that you arranged to meet with Prime Minister Kan this week. However, Japan’s actions with regard to beef trade are not consistent with fair trade practices, or with U.S. treatment of Japanese imports. We encourage you to discuss U.S.-Japan beef trade with the Prime Minister. At the very least, Japan should agree to immediately relax its age restrictions to 30 months as an interim step on a pathway that would amend its import protocol to be consistent with OIE guidelines, and reopen its market to all U.S. beef products, regardless of age or boneless status.”

 The letter was also signed by Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Kit Bond (R-Mo.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), Mark Udall (D-Colo.), Bill Nelson (D-Fl.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) and Richard Burr (R-N.C.).

 Senator Roberts is a member of the Senate Finance Committee which has jurisdiction on trade matters and is a senior member of the Senate Agriculture Committee.

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