Senator Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, today made the followingcomment regarding reports that Japan intends to raise tariffs on imports of refrigerated beef from thecurrent 38.5 percent to 50 percent. Under its Temporary Tariff Measures Law, Japan can imposesuch tariffs if cumulative quarterly imports rise by 17 percent from the same period a year earlier.
“I’m very disappointed by reports that Japan plans to increase tariffs on refrigerated beefthrough the snapback provision found in its Temporary Tariff Measures Law. I’ve let the Japaneseknow of my opposition to this measure. Recent increased imports of beef into Japan can beattributed directly to increased consumption due to recovery from the market collapse caused by thediscovery of BSE in Japan in 2001. Japan’s snapback measure was never intended to address suchan extraordinary situation."
Source: Ranking Member’s News
