WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 (UPI) -- The Bush administration said Wednesday that it would continue to press Japan to reopen its market to U.S. beef.
"We will continue to press hard on Japan at all levels until it does the right thing in line with science and fully reopens its markets to U.S. beef," said Wendy Cutler, assistant U.S. trade representative for Japan, Korea and APEC affairs, in prepared testimony before the House Ways and Means Committee hearing on U.S.-Japan economic relations.
Japan imposed a ban on American beef 19 months ago after confirmed reports of mad cow disease.
According to media reports, Japan's Food Safety Commission delayed its decision to allow U.S. beef imports into the country. It was the seventh time that Japan's food panel met to discuss the safety of American beef. The Japanese government cannot lift the ban on imports without the food commission's approval.
The Bush administration expressed disappointment Wednesday that deliberations over U.S. beef has not made it to final stages. Once the food commission completes its assessment, the market will be reopened after a 30-day public comment period is completed.
"By any reasonable measure, Japan has had ample time to reach a conclusion to this issue," said Cutler.
Senior Republican head of the Senate Agriculture Committee said Tuesday that trade sanctions may be needed, if Japan continues to close markets to U.S. beef.
"Japan's inexplicable lack of response to even consider a move to re-open their market to U.S. beef will sorely tempt economic trade action against Japan," said Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R.-Ga. "Japan's latest delay has only hastened America's demand for action, and increased my strong displeasure for Japan's inattentiveness to our trade relationship."
Spokesman for the Republican Senator, Keith Williams, said that Chambliss is expected to meet U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman on Thursday to discuss Japan's U.S. beef ban.
