Japan's all-out ban on U.S. beef imports could lead to trade war: Johanns

Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns warned Wednesday that Japan’s possible all-out import ban on U.S. beef in case of another ineligible shipment from the United States would precipitate a bilateral trade war.

In late July, the Japanese government decided to partially lift its all-out ban on U.S. beef imports that was reinstated in January after a U.S. veal shipment to Japan was found to contain a backbone, believed to carry a high risk of infection of mad cow disease, in violation of a bilateral trade agreement.

Johanns told a small group of reporters, „when Japan closes the border and punishes everybody, those who are not even responsible, that causes that kind of discussion to occur on Capitol Hill.“

„It really needs to be based upon standards. And if we lose sight of that, then it just becomes a big mess. It just becomes a big trade war,“ he said.

Japan first banned U.S. beef imports in December 2003 immediately after the discovery of the first U.S. case of the disease, formally called bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or BSE.

In December 2005, Tokyo resumed imports of U.S. beef taken from cows aged up to 20 months on condition that brain and other parts with high BSE risks are removed.

Johanns emphasized U.S. efforts to prevent shipments of designated risky parts.

At the same time, he called on Japan not to impose an all-out import ban again, citing an example that the United States would not totally ban imports of Japanese automobiles even if it finds a single car with a defect.

The two countries have not clarified how to deal with another possible ineligible shipment from the United States.

Japanese Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Jiro Kawasaki has announced his intention to impose an all-out import ban under such circumstances. (Jiji Press)

Source: mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp