U.S. Senator Ken Salazar

Member of the Agriculture, Energy and Veterans Affairs Committees

 

2300 15th Street, Suite 450 Denver, CO 80202 | 702 Hart Senate Building, Washington, D.C. 20510

 

 

For Immediate Release

May 24, 2005

CONTACT:    Cody Wertz – Press Secretary

                        202-228-3630

Jen Clanahan – Deputy Press Secretary

                        303-455-7600

 

SEN. SALAZAR "CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC" ON LIFTING OF AMERICAN BEEF IMPORT BAN BY JAPAN

WASHINGTON, D.C. – United States Senator Ken Salazar today applauded the move by the Japanese government to explore reopening its borders to U.S. beef imports. Media reports today indicated that the Japanese Ministries of Agriculture and Health ministries have instructed its Food Safety Commission to start examining the possibility of reopening Japan's borders to American beef imports.

“This study is a good first step by the Japanese government and a sign that the Japanese ban may be coming to an end. I am cautiously optimistic, but I will not be satisfied until Japan fully reopens its markets to U.S. beef,” Senator Salazar said.

The directive to the Food Safety Commission comes after Senator Salazar, on behalf of ranchers in Colorado and across the country, worked to pressure the Japanese government to reopen their borders to American beef. On March 11, Senator Salazar, Senator Allard and a bipartisan group of Senators met with the Ambassador of Japan His Excellency Ryozo Kato to pressure him for a timeline for reopening Japanese markets to American beef imports. Senator Salazar also asked Ambassador Kato in a letter the following week for a written explanation of the Japanese government’s process for reopening its borders.

In addition, Senator Salazar also sought to help Colorado and U.S. ranchers by pressing American officials abroad as well. In March, Senator Salazar wrote to Mr. Michael W. Michalak, the Charge d'Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, Japan to inquire about steps taken by him to reopen the Japanese beef market and what tools had been successful in promoting U.S. beef exports.

While officials in the Japanese government refused to provide a specific timetable for the Food Safety Commission’s actions, Japanese media reports indicated that the ban could be lifted as early as this summer. Japan was the largest importer of U.S. beef in the world until it closed its markets to American beef in December 2003. The closure of the Japanese market to American beef has had a significant impact on Colorado’s agricultural industry. Colorado is the fifth largest agricultural exporting state of live animals and meat.

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