Video #25 - Japan: U.S. Beef Ban
Monday, January 16, 2006BACKGROUND INFORMATION
In December, 2003, the Japanese government banned American beef imports. Japan's ban was based on a demand that the U.S. test all cattle for mad-cow disease or bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) before slaughter. (Although Japan tests all its cattle, the U.S. allows spot-checks of its herds, rather than checking each cow). Human consumption of infected beef causes the human version of BSE, called Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. This fatal brain disorder killed more than 150 people in the 1990's, mostly in Britain.
Until 2004, Japan was the U.S. most lucrative beef market. According to Richard Hanson: "Before the ban, US beef and beef products provided about 30 % of Japan's beef supply, ranking second after Australia. That was worth about US$3.2 billion last year." Consequently, Washington has been lobbying for business as usual. James Simms reported on May 10, 2005 that: "U.S. Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer warned top Japanese ruling and opposition party politicians ...that continuing the ban on U.S. beef exports to Japan could cause bilateral trade friction to flare again."
On May 12, 2005, lawmakers in Japan reportedly endorsed a plan for food regulators to consider lifting the ban on American beef imports. According to Hideshi Michino, an official with the Health Ministry, a committee of the Liberal Democratic Party has begun discussions about this with officials from the Agriculture and Health ministries.
Furthermore, Japan's Food Safety Commission recommended that the government waive mad cow disease tests for domestic cattle younger than 21 months. This change would allow for beef imports from younger American cattle.
According to Hideshi Michino, deliberations by the Food Safety Commission to reconsider the ban may begin at the end of May. However, the government is opening up the debate to allow for public input before moving forward. Japanese consumer groups in Japan vigorously oppose lifting the ban. As a result, it may take several months before U.S. beef is allowed to reenter Japan.
SOURCES
"Japan to discuss lifting ban on U.S. beef." MSNBC.com, May 12, 2005. Hanson, Richard, "Japan-US impasse over lifting mad cow ban." Asia Times Online, 2004. www.atimes.com Simms, James, "US Envoy Warns Japan Trade Friction May Flare Over Beef." SmartMoney.com, May 10, 2005.
LESSON PLAN
GRADE LEVEL/SUBJECT:
10-12 grade Economics, International Relations, World History, Geography, International Baccalaureate Programs (IB), Current Events.
PURPOSE:
To present activities to be used in a variety of classroom situations in order to enhance student understanding of the Asian economy and its significance globally.
OBJECTIVES:
Students will be able to:
- Describe events leading to the US beef ban by Japan.
- Compare and contrast the point of view of each, US and Japan on the ban.
- Evaluate the need for such a ban.
MATERIALS:
- Background information provided.
- Resources on Japan a available at your school's Media Center and the Public Library System in your area.
- Background information available through Internet "search engines."
ACTIVITIES:
May be assigned as group activities or as individual tasks. They may also be designed as preparation for related presentations either by individuals or groups.
- Create a time line illustrating events leading to the current ban of US beef by Japan.
- Research and report on BSE, its consequences and prevention from the scientific standpoint.
- Hold a class debate simulating official negotiations on this issue between Japan and the US.
EVALUATION:
Individual assignments should be graded by the teacher using established criteria.
Group activities, presentations and projects may be evaluated by teachers and students using the following criteria and scale: Content 1 = Superior (A) Creativity 2 = Excellent (B) Clarity 3 = Good (C) 4 = Fair (D) 5 = Poor (F)
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