[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 35 (Thursday, March 11, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1462-S1463]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 452--SUPPORTING INCREASED MARKET ACCESS FOR EXPORTS 
            OF UNITED STATES BEEF AND BEEF PRODUCTS TO JAPAN

  Mr. JOHANNS (for himself, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Chambliss, Mr. Roberts, 
Mr. Brownback, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr.

[[Page S1463]]

Cornyn, Mr. Enzi, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Conrad, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Thune, Mr. 
Crapo, Mr. Pryor, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Bond, Mr. Nelson of Nebraska, Ms. 
Klobuchar, Mr. Risch, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Udall of New Mexico, Mr. Nelson 
of Florida, Mr. Voinovich, and Mr. Coburn) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Finance:

                              S. Res. 452

       Whereas, in 2003, Japan was the largest market for United 
     States beef, with exports valued at $1,400,000,000;
       Whereas, after the discovery of 1 Canadian-born cow 
     infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) disease 
     in the State of Washington in December of 2003, Japan closed 
     its market to United States beef, and still restricts access 
     to a large number of safe United States beef products;
       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 United States beef is safe for export 
     and consumption;
       Whereas, from 2004 through 2009, United States beef exports 
     to Japan averaged roughly $196,000,000, less than 15 percent 
     of the amount the United States sold to Japan in 2003, 
     causing significant losses for United States cattle 
     producers; and
       Whereas, while Japan remains an important ally and trading 
     partner of the United States, this unscientific trade 
     restriction is not consistent with fair trade practices, nor 
     with United States treatment of Japanese imports: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) it is not in the interest of either the United States 
     or Japan to arbitrarily restrict market access for their 
     close partners;
       (2) trade between the United States and Japan should be 
     conducted with mutual respect and based on sound science;
       (3) since banning United States beef in December 2003, 
     Japan has not treated United States beef producers fairly;
       (4) both Japan and the United States should comply with 
     guidelines based on sound science;
       (5) Japan should immediately expand market access for 
     United States exporters of both bone-in and boneless beef 
     beyond the existing standard of beef from cattle 20 months 
     and younger; and
       (6) the President should insist on increased access for 
     United States exporters of beef and beef products to the 
     market in Japan.

  Mr. JOHANNS. Mr. President, I rise to offer a resolution supporting 
increased access for U.S. beef and beef products to the country of 
Japan. Let me step back and set the stage for this resolution.
  On December 23, 2003, one cow was discovered in the United States 
with BSE, the disease sometimes referred to in a kind of slang way as 
``mad cow disease.'' Even though that animal was actually born in 
Canada, the reaction of our trading partners around the world was swift 
and devastating. Almost immediately, Japan and other countries closed 
their markets to U.S. beef. Virtually with the snap of a finger, we 
lost over 90 percent of our export market. It just disappeared. At the 
time, Japan was the largest export market for U.S. beef. It had a value 
to our producers of $1.4 billion.
  We began work to address BSE in this country dating all the way back 
to 1988, when the Department of Agriculture established a BSE committee 
to make recommendations on appropriate regulatory controls. Our 
government has developed and implemented a multilayered system of 
interlocking safeguards to ensure the safety of American beef. After 
the 2003 BSE discovery, we added even more safeguards. These efforts by 
our government, in coordination with U.S. cattle producers, have paid 
off. A 2006 study by USDA found that BSE was virtually nonexistent 
among the 40 million adult cattle in our country. Again in 2007, the 
World Organization for Animal Health, the internationally recognized 
standard-setting body, also known as OIE, classified the United States 
as a ``controlled risk'' country for BSE. This classification simply 
means that because of the expansive system of safeguards that are in 
place, U.S. beef is safe for export and for consumption.
  Interestingly enough, that is the identical classification the OIE 
gave to Japan just last year. So as Japan asked their trading partners 
to treat them fairly under OIE standards, we are asking them to reopen 
their market for our beef.
  Seven years have passed. We have proven, time and again, the 
effectiveness of our safety system. The Japanese still restrict most 
U.S. beef products. Japan's actions are not consistent with fair 
trading practices, nor with the U.S. treatment of Japan's imports. That 
is why I agreed to meet last week with the Japanese Ambassador to 
discuss this matter. I asked the Ambassador: What would happen if the 
United States said it doesn't want any more car parts from Japan until 
they can assure us that there are absolutely no defects? That is 
essentially what it has done to our beef industry. If we in the United 
States said we would never do anything in response to the current 
Toyota situation that they have not already done to us, that would not 
be a good deal for Japan when it comes to exports. Their treatment of 
our beef has cost our Nation's beef industry billions of dollars and 
has been economically devastating to States such as mine, the State of 
Nebraska. If we treated their products the same way, it would be 
equally as devastating to Japan because we are a major importer of 
Japanese goods. Over the last 6 years, the United States has purchased, 
on average, over $132 billion in Japanese goods annually. In 2009 
alone, even in the midst of a global economic downturn, the United 
States purchased $95.9 billion of products from Japan. Cars led the 
way. We purchased $31.5 billion in vehicles and parts. Beyond that, we 
bought $19.5 billion in nuclear reactors, machinery, and parts. Just 
over $15 billion worth of electronics we bought from Japan, another $5 
billion in optic, photo, medical or surgical instruments, and dozens 
and dozens of other products that add up to another $25 billion.
  I wish to make something clear. I am not advocating that the United 
States close its borders to Japan's products. Japan is a valued friend. 
But what I do say I say directly and with the resolution: Sanctions on 
our beef do not represent the act of a friend nor that of a fair 
trading partner. There is simply no scientific justification for their 
restrictions, none whatsoever, a point my friends from Japan cannot 
deny. Quite honestly, Japan's standard of accepting only beef from 
cattle aged 20 months and younger was pulled out of thin air. It is 
nothing more than an economic sanction.
  I have been dealing with this issue for nearly 7 years, first as the 
Governor of Nebraska, then as our Agriculture Secretary, and now as a 
Senator. My confirmation hearing before this body to become Secretary 
of Agriculture was dominated by one topic: Opening Japan's borders to 
our beef.
  I come forward to offer this sense-of-the-Senate resolution. The 
resolution does not say we want to keep Japanese products out of the 
United States. It is in the interest of neither the United States nor 
Japan to arbitrarily restrict market access for friends and close 
partners. We are both with Japan. Trade between the United States and 
Japan should be conducted with mutual respect and based on sound 
science, something we haven't seen from Japan in this area in the last 
7 years. My resolution does say that both Japan and the United States 
should comply with science-based standards. It also states the Obama 
administration should insist on increased access for U.S. beef and beef 
products to Japan.
  Very simply, it is time for fair treatment from our friends in Japan. 
I will continue to press this issue. I ask my colleagues to join me in 
supporting a resolution that basically says trade should be fair.

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