16 September 2005

Sebelius lobbies Japanese officials to reopen markets to Kansas beef
Governor offers help to Secretary of Agriculture

Governor Kathleen Sebelius today sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns, offering the state’s help to reopen the Japanese market to American beef.

“Earlier this week, I visited with Japanese officials and retailers at the 37th Annual Midwest-U.S. Japan Association meeting in Cincinnati, where resuming American beef exports to Japan was a common topic of conversation,” Governor Sebelius said. “Many officials I spoke with seemed confident the market would reopen soon, but I recall having similar conversations at last year’s meeting in Japan.”

Japan is a significant market for American beef and an especially important market for Kansas beef. In Japan, Kansas beef is marketed as a brand synonymous with high quality, and sales to that nation totaled more than $175 million in 2003. Japan has consistently ranked second only to Mexico as Kansas’ largest export market.

“Kansas ranchers and beef processors are anxious for exports to resume,” Governor Sebelius said. “Every day the market remains closed compounds the economic toll it’s taking on them and their families.”

Governor Sebelius has supported USDA’s efforts to reopen U.S. borders to Canadian beef and cattle, and she supports resumed beef imports from Japan.

“My only request of USDA was that resumed imports happen close in time to resumed exports to Japan, and we have yet to achieve that goal,” Governor Sebelius said. “I offered Secretary Johanns my help, as well as the help of Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Adrian Polansky, to get American beef back into Japanese markets.”

Japan closed its border to American beef after a Washington state cow was diagnosed with bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or BSE, in December 2003. In October 2004, Japanese officials agreed to a framework under which beef exports could resume, including accepting beef from animals under 20 months of age, but no timetable was set for when that would happen.