[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 133 (Wednesday, October 19, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H8954-H8955]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    WHERE IS THE U.S. BEEF IN JAPAN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moran) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise this afternoon to discuss 
the economic harm that U.S. farmers and ranchers have experienced as a 
result of the Japanese embargo of U.S. beef. This issue has gone on far 
too long, and we in Kansas have lost our patience.
  Mr. Speaker, Japan has prohibited the imports of beef from the United 
States since December 2003 when a single case of BSE was found in a 
Canadian-born animal.
  Since that time, the United States has undergone rigorous and 
thorough surveillance programs for BSE testing and has implemented 
safeguards to protect human and animal health. These safeguards have 
far exceeded internationally recognized standards promoted by the World 
Organization for Animal Health, of which Japan is a member.
  While the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement provides that members 
of the WTO have the right to take measures to protect human, animal and 
plant health under principles of sound science, the SPS Agreement does 
not allow WTO members the right to discriminate and restrict trade 
arbitrarily.

                              {time}  1645

  The U.S. State Department, the Office of the United States Trade 
Representative, and the United States Department of Agriculture have 
worked tirelessly to reopen this market for U.S. beef, and I commend 
them for their efforts.
  On October 23, 2004, nearly a year ago, the United States and Japan 
concluded an understanding that established a process to lead to the 
resumption of beef imports from the United States. Despite this 
agreement a year ago, the Government of Japan continues to delay 
imports of beef from the U.S. on a basis and factors not grounded in 
science or consumer safety.
  Losing the export market to Japan is having a significant impact upon 
our entire industry, and it also puts at risk a well-established 
bilateral trading relationship. This 2-year delay has now almost 
totaled $3.4 billion in losses to American agriculture. Whether you are 
a farmer or a rancher, a beef processor or a retailer, this loss of 
market is having a detrimental effect upon that business, upon our 
rural communities, and upon the agriculture economy. The U.S. cattle 
and beef industries are losing $100 million each month that Japan 
remains closed to U.S. beef markets. Since December 2003, the U.S. meat 
industry has lost 10,000 jobs, mostly attributed to a loss of the 
export markets.
  In March this year, Mr. Speaker, I introduced House Resolution 137, 
which currently has more than 80 co-sponsors. I encourage my colleagues 
to join me in sponsoring this legislation. The resolution is a sense of 
the House of Representatives that if the Government of Japan continues 
to delay in meeting its obligations under the understanding reached 
last October, then

[[Page H8955]]

the United States trade representative should immediately impose 
retaliatory trade sanctions against Japan.
  While I do not wish for the U.S. and Japan to enter into a drawn out 
trade dispute, the reality is that Japan cannot have it both ways, and 
they must be required to uphold their agreement. The United States 
works to promote free trade agreements throughout the world, and it is 
important for our trading partners to honor the current agreements and 
international standards; and without those assurances, support for 
trade agreements will clearly erode.
  Recently, I was joined by over a hundred Members of Congress in 
writing President Bush asking him to make restoring this market of U.S. 
beef to Japan his highest economic priority in his discussions with the 
Japanese Prime Minister. I support our government's efforts to reopen 
our beef exports to Japan; but, again, Japan continues to unjustifiably 
delay the process.
  Last month I testified before the House Committee on Ways and Means 
and urged the committee to bring this resolution to the floor and show 
Japan the serious nature of this trade issue. I appreciate very much 
the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas) for holding the hearing and 
for allowing me to testify.
  Many members of that committee during the hearing agreed that this 
action needs to be taken to address this issue.
  Mr. Speaker, Japan cannot have it both ways. They cannot benefit from 
exports to the U.S. while denying our imports such as beef with no 
scientific evidence to support their actions. Congressional patience 
has been exhausted. It is time that House Resolution 137 be brought to 
the floor and a clear message be delivered to Japan. Let us allow the 
will of the House to be heard. Patience is a virtue no longer.

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