The government on Friday lifted all age restrictions on imported U.S. beef for the first time since the measures were imposed in 2003 to counter mad cow disease.

The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry removed the ban on United States beef from cattle older than 30 months after the food safety commission signed off on the move in January.

The move comes as Japan faces mounting pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to give American farmers greater access to its agricultural market.