[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 82 (Thursday, May 27, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4555-S4556]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 544--SUPPORTING INCREASED MARKET ACCESS FOR EXPORTS 
                OF UNITED STATES BEEF AND BEEF PRODUCTS

  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:

                              S. Res. 544

       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
       Resolved, 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

[[Page S4556]]

     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.

                          ____________________