Argentina to sell beef in Japan

Argentina’s Minister of Agriculture Luis Miguel Etchevehere recently participated in a meeting of the Joint Committee of Argentine-Japanese Business Cooperation, with the aim of continuing with the strengthening of bilateral relations. A press release from Etchevehere’s office said that he praised “the relationship between Japan and Argentina, both because of our historical ties, which we are celebrating today, and because of the promising future that lies ahead from the complementarity of our economies and productive structures that we are inaugurating a new stage in our relationship, based on mutual trust, camaraderie, and frank and constructive dialogue.” Etchevehere told the Nikkei Asian Review in Tokyo that his country has signed a deal with the Japanese government under which Tokyo will authorize imports of fresh beef from Argentina by late July. His country has also inked a beef export agreement with Beijing, China. Before signing the deal with Tokyo, Argentina could only export heat-treated meat to Japan. After passing the Japanese government’s screening for foot-and-mouth disease, Argentina will now be able to export fresh beef and mutton produced in the southern region of Patagonia. — WLJ