The U.S. border should be opened to Canadian live beef imports “as soon as possible,” President George W. Bush said Friday after talks with Prime Minister Paul Martin.
Restrictions on the movement of beef were high on the list of trade issues Mr. Martin took to Washington for his first bilateral meeting with the U.S. President. The two men emerged midday Friday after a discussion that Mr. Martin characterized as “very, very good.”
The two men spoke briefly to reporters in the Rose Garden and then took a few questions. Asked about beef imports by a Canadian reporter, Mr. Bush said that he wanted to treat the issue on a scientific, not political basis.
“My administration is committed to a policy of free trade when it comes to beef,” Mr. Bush said. “It's in our nation's interest that live beef be moving back and forth.”
Prime Minister Paul Martin meets with U.S. President George W. Bush Friday at the White House. (Tim Sloan/AFP)
Earlier this month the U.S. Department of Agriculture lifted an 11-month ban on certain Canadian beef products. They ruled that import permits would now cover all edible beef products from cattle under 30 months old.
More than $1-billion worth of beef exports to the U.S. evaporated when a single case of mad-cow disease surfaced in Alberta almost one year ago. Exporters have recaptured more than three-quarters of that figure.
Speaking about the prospects for a full resumption of beef exports, Mr. Martin said Friday that he is “very optimistic” on issue.
“We talked about the whole question of BSE, mad cow, and I must say that the president was very encouraging,” he said. “It's very clear that, with Canada and the United States working together, we can make things happen.”
Agriculture Minister Bob Speller, appearing with Mr. Martin at a second briefing later in the day, rejected the notion that, were Stephen Harper the prime minister, the border would have been opened faster.
“You've got to understand, the United States has a separation of powers, there are responsibilities that [The President] has but there are other responsibilities that the Secretary of Agriculture has,” he told reporters at an afternoon briefing at the Canadian Embassy in Washington.
“There is a legal process that they've had to go through. Anything Stephen Harper could have said wouldn't have changed that.”
Mr. Martin seemed amused by the question. “If he had been Prime Minister, there's no doubt that we would have invaded Iraq.”
