U.S., Japan to resume beef trade talks

U.S., Japan to resume beef trade talks    U.S. and Japanese government officials will meet in Tokyo Tuesday and Wednesday to attempt to discuss reopening the Japanese market to American beef shipments.
   The Japanese government banned U.S. beef after the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) or “mad cow” disease in Washington state Dec. 23. Since then, USDA officials have tried hard to resume the country’s lucrative beef trade with Japan.
   The meeting will cover:
   * The definition of BSE and methods for testing.
   * The definition of “specified risk materials” and the method for removal.
   * Appropriate surveillance.
   * Appropriate feed ban implementation.
   Subsequent meetings between the two countries will be held in June and July, USDA said.