Hong Kong reopens borders to U.S. beef

Hong Kong reopens borders to U.S. beef    The Hong Kong government announced Thursday that it will reopen its borders to U.S. beef shipments.
   Hong Kong, like many countries, banned U.S. beef imports after the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or “mad cow” disease, in a Washington state cow in late December 2003.
   In 2003, the United States shipped $90 million worth of beef products to Hong Kong, making it the fifth largest overseas market for U.S. beef.
   Under its new agreement, the United States may export boneless beef from cattle less than 30 months of age to Hong Kong under the Beef Export Verification Program.
   “We are extremely pleased with the reopening of another important market for U.S. beef exports and we anticipate that trade will quickly begin,” said U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns in a statement.
   Since the closing of many U.S. export markets two years ago, the United States has recovered access to markets valued at more than $2.8 billion, or 74 percent of the 2003 export value of $3.9 billion, Johanns said.
   Japan announced it would resume trade with U.S. beef shippers on Dec. 11.