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U.S. senators urge Bush to press Abe on beef issue during visitWASHINGTON (AP)--Two dozen U.S. senators urged President George W. Bush to press Japan's prime minister to immediately resume full U.S. beef imports. The senators said Shinzo Abe should be made aware of U.S. discontent as he makes his first visit to Washington as Japanese prime minister in late April. In a letter to Bush April 20, the senators said progress in efforts to open Japan's market to U.S. beef has been "incremental and frustrating." "Mr. President, we urge you to tell Prime Minister Abe that America's ranchers and beef processors have been patient and flexible for four years," the senators said. "Our patience has run out. Sound science, international trade rules and the Japanese consumer all demand U.S. beef and beef products achieve full access to the Japanese market without delay." Japan banned American beef imports in December 2003 after the first case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy in the U.S. The ban was eased once in December 2005 but tightened again the following month after prohibited spinal bones were found in a veal shipment. Tokyo eased the restrictions again but allows only meat from cows aged 20 months or younger. Before the ban, Japan had been the top destination for U.S. beef, importing $1.4 billion (euro1 billion) worth a year. The senators signing the letter included Max Baucus, Democratic chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate Sam Brownback. 4 Star NE 4/30/07 14 B Date: 4/25/07
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