SYDNEY (Kyodo) New Zealand can increase beef exports to Japan if the Japanese government reassesses its tariff, New Zealand's beef marketing body said Tuesday.
"New Zealand businesses are ready to do business with Japanese companies and are ready to export more if the price is right," Meat New Zealand's chief executive, Mark Jeffries, told Kyodo News, referring to efforts to make up for shortages caused by the detection of mad cow disease in the United States.
"One of the things affecting price is Japan's tariff," he said. "Japanese consumers are experiencing high prices and the Japanese government has a way to reduce them by reviewing the tariff."
Agriculture officials visited New Zealand last week to investigate whether exporters can meet extra demand for beef caused by a ban on U.S. imports introduced after a Holstein was found Dec. 23 to be infected with mad cow disease. More than 30 countries have halted U.S. beef imports.
"It is less viable for New Zealand exporters if the high tariff remains," Jeffries said.
The government increased its tariff on imported beef to 50 percent from 38.5 percent Aug. 1 to this March 31 under a World Trade Organization rule.