AGRICULTURAL TRADE: IMPORTS GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT
KEYWORDS: RICE, BEEF, PORK

Just an appetizer, for starters, until 1999 rice imports were banned into Japan. Now they can be imported subject to a 490% tariff. In July, 2004 the Japanese government imposed a tariff of 510 yen per kilo of pork imports, due to a surge of imports during April-June 2004. If pork imports surge more than 19% in a quarter compared to the corresponding period of the previous 3 years. Pork imports have surged for the 4th straight year, because the Japanese government imposed a ban on import of US beef due to mad cow disease fears. Another Catch 22 of Japan’s policy on beef was imposing higher tariffs on beef even while it was troubled finding alternative sources of beef. Wholesale beef prices exploded by 60%. In the midst of this shortage, the Japanese government imposed an emergency 50% tariff to protect Japanese cattle raisers. Japanese law permits such emergency tariffs if beef imports jump more than 17% year on year over quarterly averages. The beef imports grew in 2002 and 2003 because in 2001 there was a drastic fall on the breakout of mad cow disease domestically that affected all beef sales in Japan. Even now, beef imports have not increased above pre-mad cow disease levels while they still  apply emergency tariffs. Thus Japanese cow raisers prosper as Japanese consumers suffer. Again the priority of the government, protecting rural interests against urbanites.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is now using sniffer dogs at Japanese airports and ports. While other nations use sniffer dogs to chase after such heinous products as narcotics, in Japan it is to smell out processed meat products. One airline employee was even caught with a suitcase with a false bottom full of sausages. The death penalty next? Check your immigration card! DEATH TO MEAT IMPORTERS!

Copyright 2005. All rights reserved Attorney Roderick H. Seeman

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