Japan ‘Mad Cow’ Case Hits U.S. Beef Exports

U.S. beef sales to Japan, the largest overseas buyer of U.S. beef, have dropped by about half since a single case of “mad cow” disease was confirmed there last month, and losses in U.S. beef exports could reach $1 billion if the drop continues, the U.S. Meat Export Federation said.

“What we are looking at at this point in time is probably a 50% reduction in U.S. [beef] exports to that market,” Phil Seng, USMEF president and chief executive, said in a conference call with reporters.

Last year, the U.S. shipped about $1.8 billion worth of beef and beef products to Japan, or about a third of all U.S. beef exports.