Moran Continues Efforts to Reopen

Markets to U.S. Beef

Meets with Ambassador of Korea,

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Jerry Moran yesterday met with the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, Lee Tae-sik, to discuss the progress of reopening the Korean market to U.S. beef. The meeting follows Moran's previous meeting with the Ambassador of Japan to press for the reopening of its border.

"It is critical for us to keep pressure on countries like Korea and Japan that have delayed the resumption of American beef trade," Moran said. "Each day these beef blockades are allowed to continue, our Kansas ranchers suffer significant harm."

Moran has continued his efforts to reopen foreign markets to U.S. beef. Earlier this month, he asked House leadership to bring to a vote a resolution he introduced with 89 other Members calling for retaliatory trade sanctions to be imposed on Japan if it continues its ban on U.S. beef imports. Also, earlier this week Moran met with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns to discuss strategies and progress of reopening foreign markets like Japan and Korea.

"Our nation's ranchers should not be forced to idly accept punishment for a situation they did not create," Moran said. "Resumption of beef trade is key to the economic survival of our nation's ranchers."

"America's cattlemen appreciate the support we have received in Congress, and the high priority our Congressional leaders and the Bush Administration have placed on resumption of beef trade," said Mike John of Huntsville, Mo., president of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. "They clearly understand the importance of beef exports to the nation's cattle producers, and that it's high time for our trading partners to start acting in good faith."

Moran is a senior member of the House Committee on Agriculture.

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