Japan's vice farm minister said on Monday it is unclear if actions proposed by Washington would help prevent shipments of banned U.S. beef to Japan.
More stonewalling from Japan on the beef issue. Not surprising but it would be nice to get this issue resolved. I will note this story comes out after U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns said on Saturday that U.S. beef exports to Japan would resume "very, very quickly." Somebodies living in a different universe from the rest of us who know Japan is being difficult about this. The beef industry will just have to march on and see what happens.
I note nowhere in Japan's opposition to US beef is the statement that is has to be source identified like the backers of the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) tell us Japan wants and will bring us enormous profits. Japan's just concerned the USDA, the agency foisting NAIS on us and the agency to administer the program, is not doing their job on watching the big meat packers and how they prepare meat. So is the USDA foisting their problems off on producers instead of living up to their problems? Yes and their answer is more government intrusion. Typical big government solution.
Injustice, cruelty, restraint of conscience, oppression, falsity, dishonour, deceit, violation of law and equity?—But look how they have cleaned up the cities and what wonderful roads they have built! Johan Huizinga
