Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TOKYO2029
2007-05-07 09:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
how-toVZCZCXRO7247 OO RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNH DE RUEHKO #2029 1270933 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 070933Z MAY 07 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3345 INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 0990 RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 3428 RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 4543 RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 1898
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 002029
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT PASS USDA FOR U/S KEENAM, DU/S TERPSTRA, FAS YOST
PLEASE PASS USTR CUTLER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/07/2017
TAGS: ECON ETRD EAGR JA
SUBJECT: GOJ HUDDLING ABOUT BEEF
REF: TOKYO 1890
Classified By: Charge Joseph R. Donovan for reasons 1.4 (b/d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 002029
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT PASS USDA FOR U/S KEENAM, DU/S TERPSTRA, FAS YOST
PLEASE PASS USTR CUTLER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/07/2017
TAGS: ECON ETRD EAGR JA
SUBJECT: GOJ HUDDLING ABOUT BEEF
REF: TOKYO 1890
Classified By: Charge Joseph R. Donovan for reasons 1.4 (b/d).
1. (C) Over Japan's Golden Week holiday and again on May 7
the Charge underscored with GOJ authorities Washington's
strong concern about apparent GOJ backsliding (see reftel) on
a deal to ease restrictions on U.S. beef exports to Japan.
Vice Foreign Minister Yabunaka and Assistant Chief Cabinet
Secretary Ando both conveyed their dismay that problems had
SIPDIS
emerged again. Ando told the Charge that he had convened a
GOJ inter-agency meeting on Sunday, May 6, between officials
at the Health (MHLW),Agriculture (MAFF),and Foreign
Ministries (MOFA) to find a way forward. Chief Cabinet
Secretary Shiozaki was directly engaged in the process,
SIPDIS
according to Ando. Subsequently, we have been told that
another inter-agency meeting on the issue is set to take
place in the Prime Minister's office later in the evening on
May 7.
2. (C) Ando told the Charge that he was hoping a call could
be made between Agriculture Minister Matsuoka and Agriculture
Secretary Johanns if the GOJ could develop a unified position
SIPDIS
that Matsuoka could present. Without being prompted, Ando
also indicated that a WTO case against Japan over the
BSE/beef issue would not be in anybody's interest. According
to MOFA officials in the Second North Americas Division, the
GOJ is very aware of the concerns in Washington about MHLW's
apparent unwillingness to audit all U.S. meat exporting
facilities and also about the U.S. inter-agency meeting on
May 7 in Washington to discuss the matter. The MOFA source
said he hoped Matsuoka would be in a position to call Johanns
"as soon as possible."
3. (C) Separately, we understand that Japanese importers of
U.S. beef have also been actively lobbying MHLW and MAFF for
a solution. Industry contacts have reportedly had
minister-level discussions at both MHLW and MAFF and are
advocating that the audits proceed as proposed by the United
States. Japanese industry contacts also reportedly urged
Minister Matsuoka to call Secretary Johanns to accept the
U.S. proposed schedule but with the proviso that plants
without a shipment history make 'sample' shipments to Japan.
DONOVAN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT PASS USDA FOR U/S KEENAM, DU/S TERPSTRA, FAS YOST
PLEASE PASS USTR CUTLER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/07/2017
TAGS: ECON ETRD EAGR JA
SUBJECT: GOJ HUDDLING ABOUT BEEF
REF: TOKYO 1890
Classified By: Charge Joseph R. Donovan for reasons 1.4 (b/d).
1. (C) Over Japan's Golden Week holiday and again on May 7
the Charge underscored with GOJ authorities Washington's
strong concern about apparent GOJ backsliding (see reftel) on
a deal to ease restrictions on U.S. beef exports to Japan.
Vice Foreign Minister Yabunaka and Assistant Chief Cabinet
Secretary Ando both conveyed their dismay that problems had
SIPDIS
emerged again. Ando told the Charge that he had convened a
GOJ inter-agency meeting on Sunday, May 6, between officials
at the Health (MHLW),Agriculture (MAFF),and Foreign
Ministries (MOFA) to find a way forward. Chief Cabinet
Secretary Shiozaki was directly engaged in the process,
SIPDIS
according to Ando. Subsequently, we have been told that
another inter-agency meeting on the issue is set to take
place in the Prime Minister's office later in the evening on
May 7.
2. (C) Ando told the Charge that he was hoping a call could
be made between Agriculture Minister Matsuoka and Agriculture
Secretary Johanns if the GOJ could develop a unified position
SIPDIS
that Matsuoka could present. Without being prompted, Ando
also indicated that a WTO case against Japan over the
BSE/beef issue would not be in anybody's interest. According
to MOFA officials in the Second North Americas Division, the
GOJ is very aware of the concerns in Washington about MHLW's
apparent unwillingness to audit all U.S. meat exporting
facilities and also about the U.S. inter-agency meeting on
May 7 in Washington to discuss the matter. The MOFA source
said he hoped Matsuoka would be in a position to call Johanns
"as soon as possible."
3. (C) Separately, we understand that Japanese importers of
U.S. beef have also been actively lobbying MHLW and MAFF for
a solution. Industry contacts have reportedly had
minister-level discussions at both MHLW and MAFF and are
advocating that the audits proceed as proposed by the United
States. Japanese industry contacts also reportedly urged
Minister Matsuoka to call Secretary Johanns to accept the
U.S. proposed schedule but with the proviso that plants
without a shipment history make 'sample' shipments to Japan.
DONOVAN