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USDA
Secretary nominee Mike Johanns pledged to pressure Japan
to resume imports of U.S. beef, according to a Knight-Ridder
report. Johanns describes the issue as his “top priority”
and underscored his intention to be a “tough negotiator”
when it comes to opening foreign markets for U.S. farm products.
"If
there is one paramount reason why I'm so very anxious to
get confirmed, it's to go to work on that issue as a top
priority," Johanns told a Senate confirmation hearing during
which many senators sharply criticized Japan for allegedly
trying to slow down talks and prolong its ban, while they
stressed the need to press Tokyo even at the presidential
level, Knight-Ridder said. The Senate agriculture committee
approved the nomination of Johanns, virtually making it
certain that the full Senate will confirm him.
Noting
that Japanese officials are probably watching the hearing,
Johanns commented: "I hope they just are aware of the fact
that it is my intention to make sure that there's absolutely
no slowdown, no letup. This is going to have my immediate
attention from the very moment that I become Secretary of
Agriculture."
He
added that the United States has already made efforts to
address scientific and technical issues. The United States
and Japan reached a deal in October to resume imports of
American beef by spring at the earliest from animals with
birth records showing they are younger than 20 months of
age. Some details are being resolved.
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