Shoichi Nakagawa

Nakagawa told reporters he made the Japanese request during a meeting in Washington, D.C., with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick following the discovery of the first case of mad cow disease in the United States in December.

He said he told Zoellick that Japan relies on beef imports from the United States and "restoring the normal situation before the outbreak of mad cow disease is a goal for Japan and the United States."

The United States has called on Japan to lift the import ban, but Japan is urging the United States to follow its example and test all cattle or take equivalent measures to ensure they are free of the disease.

The Japan Times Weekly: Jan. 17, 2004
(C) All rights reserved