"We're going to continue to press this point," Conner told reporters after a speech in Washington, stressing that it is taking ""too long" to resolve the bilateral beef trade row stemming from Japanese fears of mad cow disease.

"We're frustrated," he said.

Japan limits U.S. beef imports to meat coming from cattle aged 20 months or younger. Since June, the two countries have held talks on easing Japan's beef import terms for U.S. beef. Tokyo is considering raising the limit to cattle aged 30 months or younger.

Washington has been urging Tokyo to fully open its beef market since the World Organization for Animal Health decided in May to allow the United States to export beef regardless of cattle age.

Source: Kyodo News