Boycott J A Pan & Company cars, TV, computers etc.

[rusty1]

Japan official has doubts on US mad-cow safeguards
2004-01-05 10:11:21 GMT (Reuters)

TOKYO, Jan 5 (Reuters) - A senior Japanese farm ministry official expressed doubts on Monday about the effectiveness of safety measures announced by the U.S. after the country discovered its first case of mad cow disease, Kyodo news agency said.

"They are not as effective as the ones being implemented in Japan," Vice Agriculture Minister Yoshiaki Watanabe was quoted as saying.

Farm ministry officials could not be reached for comment.

Last week, the United States announced six safety measures including a ban on the use of sick or crippled "downer" cattle for human food.

The Japanese government is due shortly to send experts to the United States on a fact-finding mission.

A farm ministry official said earlier that details of the trip had yet to be worked out, although the ministry hoped to be able to send the mission at an early date.

He said the mission was expected to include officials from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and the government's Food Safety Commission, as well as the farm ministry.

Japan, the No. 1 buyer, suspended imports of U.S. beef on December 24 after news of the first U.S. case of mad cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).

A rare human form known as variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD) can result from consuming contaminated cattle products.

Japan has told U.S. officials that it is still too early to begin discussions on easing the import suspension.

[cowman]

Is Japan being unreasonable? They set standards for the safety of their people, and they are being unreasonable to ask that foreign exporters live up to those standards?
After all they aren't asking Canada or the US to do anything that their own industry isn't required to do?
In the "new global economy" is that what happens? We must lower our standards to the will of the majority or the lowest common denominator? If the majority rules foot and mouth is okay will we have to accept that? Where does a country get to draw the line?
Japan is not practising protectionalism. They have clearly stated they will take our beef if everything is tested, just like theirs is. I don't think that is an unreasonable request?

[rusty1]

Like I've said before Cowman, and has so aptly been pointed out soo many times in the last 7 months. BSE is NOT a human health risk. They kill more people every year eating their delacacy poison blow fish than they ever will eating imported beef. If we are going to test every animal at slaughter and throw an industry into caos when there is NO human risk then..... I'll get out of this stupid industry and your son can have it.
I thought we won the war once along time ago and now we are being held hostage to their election - I don't think so.

[bulltipper]

Better do some more research cowman, Japan is well documented as one of the toughest countries in the world as far as exports go. Japan is incredibly protectionist and the excuse is almost always "Your product is not up to our standard" Japan, beyond a doubt, is a exporters nightmare. I really hope that J.A.Pan and Company irritate the Merkans enough, so that they start to lean on the Japanese. The only advantage the Japanese have at this time is that their economy is such a mess that it wouldn't take much leanin' to sent it crashing around their ears.

Once again, testing every head is very dangerous ground, tread very carefully!

[cowman]

Rusty: You might believe BSE is not a health risk...and I might not believe it is a health risk. But I would suggest the Japanese obviously do? Now what do we do? Do we continue to try to educate them like we have for the last 7 months? Do we just keep insisting they get on board? They don't seem to be buying it...
What are we going to do? Should we wait for the Americans To flex their muscles and make the Japanese see the light? Of course the Americans have their own little game to play and I don't think dragging Canada back into the market is their goal?
Maybe you are right. Forget about testing and go with the flow and rely on our American neighbors to do the right thing by us?
I guess only time will tell if that is the right choice. But it sure looks like that is how it is going to be.

[rusty1]

Don't forget cowman the American "can eat themselves out of trouble". They only export 10% of their production. If they shut us out their needs are balanced. So what's their motiviation - only good will. I'm tired of the gentle negoitions - it's time to play hard ball. Then people would belly up to the tabe and get serious about negoiating.

[bulltipper]

That's the one and only upside to this BSE crises, specially in light of this second case. The Americans don't want to look at it in this way but they're gonna have to come to the realization that North America is almost totally integrated cattle market and a Canadian BSE problem is also their problem, BIG TIME, and it's time to do something about it!

[cowman]

rusty: Who are we going to play hardball with? The Japanese? Or the Americans? Do you ever get the feeling it would be like a little league team trying to play in the big leagues?
Bulltipper: I suspect the USDA knows what you say is exactly right. I believe Ron DeHaven stated as much. But now the politics will come into play as well as the media. We don't make the rules and we have zero influence with the American public. R-calf has a lot more influence than the Canadian beef industry.

[rusty1]

You wouldn't have to play ball for more than a week. Remember the Roman days. Small armies cleaned out big countries by layine siege to fortified cities. One week with a chocked down gas line or 25 ships loaded at anchor in Seattle's port would bring people to the table real quick.

[boone]

Remember the Roman Days, a bit I guess something about good christians and cat food, if I recall correctly.

[cakadu]

Is it too bold to point out that the Japanese wanted to do the very same thing when Canada had it's first case and some government staffer told them "no".

IF you can get the Japanese as a customer, that is a good thing, but they are very strong negotiators.

[boone]

cakadu: they also told the young people the war in Iraq wouldn't take long and they would be home for Christmas.

[rusty1]

If JaPan and Company didn't get most of their raw amterial from of shore they would't be able to ship us anything back. That don't seem to be too complicated to me.

[cowman]

Japan is the "cadillac" market if you will. They pay top dollar. Yes, they take our raw products and sell us back manufactured goods. Quality manufactured goods? Lets face it they make good stuff!
Could we afford to get into a trade war with Japan? Do you want to tell all the timothy hay producers they can't sell there anymore? Or the canola/wheat boys? Or the coal interests, Or iron ore? Or hogs?
For what? How much beef did we sell to them? Enough to ruin these other industries?

[boone]

Cowman, rusty1, not only is Japan the Cadillac but their standards are perceived higher than a Caddy, Lexus,Acura,etc are seen by the american people as a cut above their own products. By testing everything first ahead of the states even with a difficult uneasy time with their beef politicians, over time you should come across as the pristine provider and furthermore U.S. is our real market. It won't be if the consumer down there doesn't demand our beef.