During consideration of the ag appropriations bill, the Senate Appropriations Committee adopted a "Sense of the Senate" resolution calling for sanctions on Japanese products if Japan hasn't resumed imports of U.S. beef by the enactment of the bill.

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) stated, "Our cattlemen have paid a tremendous price for the continued delays by Japanese officials to resume beef trade based on scientifically-recognized principles. Each day the Japanese market remains closed, the U.S. beef industry feels a negative economic impact equal to $6.7 million." Japanese audit teams are currently reviewing U.S. plants. The reviews are to be completed by the end of July.
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C., correspondent