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Summary:
The United States is seeking to normalize beef and cattle trade, which has been disrupted by discoveries of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, or mad cow disease) in four Canadian-born cattle. After one of them tested positive for BSE in December 2003 in Washington state, most countries banned U.S. beef and cattle products. Of the major markets, Canada and Mexico are now importing some U.S. beef. Efforts to reopen the others, notably Japan, have not yet borne fruit. Also, USDA's efforts to reopen the border to Canadian live cattle have been slowed by several legal challenges. In Congress, committees have held oversight hearings, and the Senate on March 3, 3005, passed a resolution (opposed by the President) that would disapprove a USDA rule to permit younger Canadian cattle imports. This report will be updated.1
