WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley, ranking member of the Committee on Finance, with Sen. Max Baucus, chairman, today urged the Japanese government to remove scientifically unfounded barriers to U.S. beef and bovine-origin gelatin imports and the preferential treatment that Japan Post entities have received in Japan’s insurance, banking, and express delivery markets at the expense of private sector competitors.
“Millions of Americans eat U.S. beef every day without any health problems,” Grassley said. “The scientific evidence put forward by international arbiters confirms the safety of U.S. beef. Also, Japan continues to block exports of U.S. bovine-origin gelatin, most of which is produced in Iowa, although this product is safe. Every country that enjoys the benefits of international trade is obligated to follow the rules, whether the issue is product safety or fair competition in the financial services sector.”
Grassley and Baucus sent a letter to the Japanese ambassador to the United States. Click here to view the letter. The Committee on Finance has jurisdiction over international trade.