U.S. beef export sales to Japan soared to their highest in more than two years last week following Tokyo's decision to ease import rules related to the outbreak of mad cow disease in 2003, government data showed on Friday. USDA weekly export sales data showed that Japan bought 10,900 tons in the week ending Feb. 17, the most since 12,497 tons in the week ending Dec. 23, 2010, reports Reuters.
"It indicates that the Japanese are interested in U.S. beef otherwise they would not have relaxed the age restrictions," Iowa-based U.S. Commodities Inc analyst Don Roose said.