III 111th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 544 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 27 (legislative day, May 26), 2010 Mr. Baucus (for himself, Mr. Johanns, Mrs. Lincoln, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Nelson of Nebraska, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Bingaman, and Mr. Roberts) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Supporting increased market access for exports of United States beef and beef products.

Whereas in 2003, United States beef exports to China, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Mexico, and Vietnam were valued at $3,300,000,000. Whereas after the discovery of 1 Canadian-born cow infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) disease in the State of Washington in December 2003, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Mexico, and Vietnam, among others, closed their markets to United States beef; Whereas for years the Government of the United States has developed and implemented a multilayered system of interlocking safeguards to ensure the safety of United States beef, and after the 2003 discovery, the United States implemented further safeguards to ensure beef safety; Whereas a 2006 study by the United States Department of Agriculture found that BSE was virtually nonexistent in the United States; Whereas the internationally recognized standard-setting body, the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), has classified the United States as a controlled risk country for BSE, which means that all United States beef and beef products from cattle of all ages is safe for export and consumption; Whereas China continues to prohibit imports of all beef and beef products from the United States; Whereas Japan has opened its market for United States exporters of beef and beef products from cattle less than 21 months of age, but has not yet opened its market for all United States beef and beef products from cattle of all ages; Whereas Hong Kong has opened its market for United States exporters of deboned beef from cattle less than 30 months of age, but has not yet opened its market for all United States beef and beef products from cattle of all ages; Whereas Taiwan has opened its market for United States exporters of deboned and bone-in beef and certain offal products from cattle less than 30 months of age and has agreed to open, but has not yet opened, its market for all United States beef and beef products from cattle of all ages; Whereas South Korea has opened its market for United States exporters of beef and beef products from cattle less than 30 months of age and has agreed to open eventually, but has not yet opened, its market for all United States beef and beef products from cattle of all ages; Whereas Mexico has opened its market for United States exporters of deboned and bone-in beef and certain offal from cattle less than 30 months of age, but has not yet opened its market for all United States beef and beef products from cattle of all ages; Whereas Vietnam has opened its market for United States exporters of beef and beef products from cattle less than 30 months of age, but has not yet opened its market for all United States beef and beef products from cattle of all ages; Whereas between 2004 through 2009, United States beef exports declined due to these restrictions, causing significant revenue losses for United States cattle producers, for example, United States beef exports to Japan and South Korea averaged less than 15 percent of the amount the United States sold to Japan and South Korea in 2003; and Whereas, while China, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Mexico, and Vietnam remain important trading partners of the United States, unscientific trade restrictions are not consistent with their trade obligations: Now, therefore, be it

That it is the sense of the Senate that— (1)sanitary measures affecting trade in beef and beef products between the United States and China, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Mexico, and Vietnam should be based on science; (2)since banning United States beef in December 2003, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Mexico, and Vietnam have, to varying degrees, failed to comply with internationally recognized scientific guidelines with respect to United States beef and beef products (3)China, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Mexico, and Vietnam should fully comply with internationally recognized scientific guidelines; (4)China, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Mexico, and Vietnam should open their markets to United States exporters of all beef and beef products from cattle of all ages, consistent with OIE guidelines; and (5)the President should continue to insist on full access for United States exporters of beef and beef products to the markets in China, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Mexico, and Vietnam.