Visiting U.S. Senator Max Baucus and high-ranking Japanese officials agreed Monday that the ban on beef imports from the United States should not be in place for a long period, government officials said.

The agreement was reached when Baucus met separately with agricultural minister Yoshiyuki Kamei, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda and trade chief Shoichi Nakagawa, the officials said.

During the meetings, Baucus, a Democrat from Montana, stressed that the U.S. attaches great importance to the resumption of beef shipments to Japan, the officials said.