No end to Japan's U.S. beef ban - yet

From Bloomberg.com - Bush Trip Won't Produce End to Japan's Beef Ban, Hadley Says

Japan probably won't ease its nearly two-year-old ban on U.S. beef imports while President George W. Bush visits the country this week, Bush's National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley said.

Although Japan, formerly the #1 importer of U.S. beef, has signalled that they are moving towards removing the ban, apparently, they won't be ready to do so by the time of President Bush's visit.