U.S.-Japan Set Beef Trade Framework

Suggested Lead:   U.S. and Japanese negotiators Saturday set in place framework aimed at the resumption of beef exports to Japan. According to U.S. Meat Export Federation President and CEO Phil Seng, interviewed in Denver…

We asked Seng if he was surprised at the announcement after so little apparent action during the last four months …

Seng said key USMEF staff were in Tokyoduring Saturday’s talks …

Seng described the reaction in Japan …

Seng says USMEF has been actively involved in a number of roles since the market closed …

How soon will trade resume under this agreement? According to Seng …

USMEF in February conducted consumer research in Japan and five other countries. The research found three out of four Japanese consumers maintaining their beef consumption. Does this offer an opportunity to U.S. producers? Seng said …

In 2003, Japan was the number one U.S. beef export market, with exports of more than 376 thousand metric tons of beef and beef variety meats topping $1.4 billion in value.

The U.S. Meat Export Federation is the trade association responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry and is funded by USDA, exporting companies, and the beef, pork, corn, sorghum and soybean checkoff programs.

-- USMEF --