MEDIA REACTION Q US-JAPAN BEEF TRADE AGREEMENT

UNCLAS TOKYO 003462

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR,
EAP/J, EAP/P, PM;
USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE;
TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI;
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA;
CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE;
PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION Q US-JAPAN BEEF TRADE AGREEMENT
- TOKYO


LEAD STORIES: Thursday morning's Nihon Keizai Shimbun
front-paged press remarks Wednesday in Vienna by
President Bush that China has an important role to play
in restraining North Korea from test-firing a long-range
ballistic missile believed to be a Taepodong-2.


1. "Wiping Away Distrust of US Beef" An editorial in the
business daily Nihon Keizai commented (6/22): "The USG
and GOJ agreed Wednesday on conditions for resuming beef
trade, opening the way for Japan to begin importing US
beef as early as late July. While some in the US voiced
dissatisfaction with how long it took to reach the
agreement, there has been criticism in Japan that this is
a political resolution of the issue ahead of the June 29
Bush-Koizumi summit in Washington. For the time being,
though, the issue has been resolved.... We hope that the
USG will inform meat plants certified to export to Japan
of the agreed-on conditions and keep a close watch on
whether they implement them. Another violation would
deepen distrust among Japanese consumers, leaving the US
unable to fulfill its goal of expanding beef exports to
Japan....


2. "Regardless of whatever steps the US takes, violations
could still occur due to carelessness. The USG has not
provided any guarantee that there will never be another
violation. Rather, it has called on the GOJ not to impose
a blanket ban but to limit punitive measures to specific
meat plants if they violate the trade conditions
following Japan's resumption of beef imports. While
clarifying what will happen in the event of a violation
is a good idea, ironclad rules are not appropriate. If
something happens that calls into question the entire
system of risk management, the GOJ should halt all
imports and call on the USG to take measures to improve
it, as the most important concern is ensuring food safety
for the Japanese people."


3. "US Beef: Distrust Remains" The liberal Asahi
editorialized (6/22): "The USG and GOJ agreed Wednesday
on Japan's resumption of US beef imports. GOJ inspectors
will audit US slaughterhouses and approve them to export
to Japan. Japanese officials will also accompany US
inspectors on unannounced audits. The two sides agreed on
these conditions to deliver safe beef to Japanese
consumers. The US livestock industry is very powerful,
and it has continued to apply pressure to get the market
reopened in Japan, which is the largest importer of US
beef.


4. "The concerns of Japanese consumers, however, have not
been wiped away. Many voiced distrust at the recent town-
hall meetings held across Japan on the safety of US beef.
Numerous retailers and restaurant operators have declared
that they will neither sell nor use US beef even after a
resumption. We recognize that experts from both
countries, each with its own unique situation regarding
beef, discussed the matter in a cool-headed manner. It
cannot be denied, though, that the two countries gave
priority to reaching a political settlement ahead of the
June 29 Bush-Koizumi summit in Washington and upcoming
WTO trade negotiations.... It is imperative for the GOJ
to fully disclose the outcome of its audits of US meat
plants. It must also disclose the results of quarantine
inspections, which have been strengthened."

SCHIEFFER