Zoellick holds talks in Japan on beef dispute
(AFP)
Updated: 2006-01-23 14:35

US Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick began talks with Japanese government leaders overshadowed by Tokyo's abrupt new ban on US beef over mad cow disease concerns.

Zoellick was meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso, who has said Japan should take its time to lift the ban reimposed Friday, describing the US checking system as "loose".

Zoellick was also to meet with Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe later Monday.

The former US trade representative already faced demands from Agriculture Minister Shoichi Nakagawa on Sunday that US exporters be more careful of food safety.

"If the US side wants us to import and eat it, it should strictly abide by rules that have been agreed on between Japan and the United States," Nakagawa told public broadcaster NHK after an hour-long meeting with Zoellick on Sunday.

Zoellick had pressed for Japan to end its two-year embargo on US beef, which was lifted just last month.

Japan, which had been the US beef industry's top market, reimposed the ban after a shipment that arrived at Tokyo's Narita airport was found to include spinal columns.

Tokyo had agreed last month to resume US beef imports provided they came from cattle no older than 20 months and that risky parts such as brains and spinal material were removed.