One cow in Washington state gets mad cow disease in 2003 and Japan cuts off beef from the US, sending our cattle industry into a tail spin.
They kept their bans in effect even after other countries eased up, and when the *did* back of a little bit – in Jan of this year! – they did so in a way that still keeps most US beef out.
“Japan was the largest market for American beef in 2003, when it restricted imports because of the cow in Washington State. That animal, now famous as “the cow who stole Christmas” because news of its infection broke right before the holidays, essentially shut down the United States export market, as some two dozen other countries followed Japan’s lead.”
“’In one fell swoop, the export market that Japan had helped establish was gone,’ said Mr. Keys, the beef industry consultant.”
“But while other countries have long since eased or reversed their restrictions on American beef imports, Japan’s decision to allow imports only of beef derived from cattle 20 months or younger created a hurdle that was difficult to overcome — most cattle are slaughtered at 24 or 25 months — and costly, because of the paperwork that had to accompany exports to Japan.”
I say it’s time we return the favor and restrict import of all Japanese products out of fear of nuclear contamination. Turnabout is fair play, right?
