Mealy Mouthed Platitudes

<a href="http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/business/news/20060520p2g00m0bu008000c.html">Japan making ready to resume U.S. beef imports in July</a><br />n<br />n<blockquote>The Japanese government on Friday began to make preparations for the resumption of U.S. beef imports in July, paying particular attention to how it will deepen communications with consumers still worried about mad cow disease.<br />n<br />nAt a three-day working-level meeting between Japan and the United States, which ended in Tokyo Friday, the Japanese side recognized that there is no major problem in quality management at the 35 U.S. meat-processing facilities that are licensed to ship beef to Japan, based on inspection reports submitted by U.S. officials.<br />n<br />nJapanese officials requested that the United States allow Japanese government inspectors to check U.S. meat-processing facilities before the resumption of imports and inspect those facilities without prior notice after the ban is lifted. The request was accepted by the U.S. side.</blockquote><br />n<br />nThe headline and beginning of the story almost sound like this is going to happen. It's almost enough to get your hopes up, until you read this little bit at the end.<br />n<br />n<blockquote>If no problem is found during the inspections, U.S. beef will return to Japanese store shelves as early as July.</blockquote><br />n<br />nSo, what kind of "problems" will Japan find now to delay opening their markets to US beef? A plant worker sneezed on a carcass, a freezer colder than it should be, what? I am sure they will manufacture some excuse to keep US beef out of their market. They have so far very effectively so I don't suspect anything will change.<br />n<br />n<b>A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes. Mark Twain</b>