Max Baucus: “I rise today to express deep frustration over Japan's unwillingness to lift its ban on U.S. beef. My patience-- and the…”

“I rise today to express deep frustration over Japan's unwillingness to lift its ban on U.S. beef. My patience-- and the patience of many of colleagues in this chamber--has run out. The time for talk and empty promises is over. I have long been, and remain, a friend of Japan. I first visited that country many years ago as a student and was deeply touched by the kindness extended to me by the people of Japan. In over 30 years in Congress, I have worked hard to strengthen our trade and economic ties. I have watched proudly as the U.S.-Japan economic relationship has grown and prospered. Times have not always been easy. I have engaged closely on U.S.-Japan issues through good times and through periods of great strain. But even in the most difficult times, I have made every effort to roll up my sleeves and work through problems in order to ensure that our trade relationship with Japan works for the people of Montana and the United States. By and large, that relationship works, and it works well. In trade, one of our crowning achievements together has been the construction of a rules-based multilateral trading system--first through the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, and now through the World Trade Organization. Without Japan's leadership and cooperation during the Tokyo Round, the Uruguay Round, and now in the Doha Round, it would have been difficult--if not impossible--to craft the important rules that govern world trade.…”