On September 17, the US Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky warned Shoichi Nakagawa, the Japanese agriculture minister, that Japan's decision to require the labeling of food products containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) could create a trade barrier—nearly 80% of Japan's total soybean supply is imported from the United States. The decision to label GMOs was made in August and came as a surprise. Strong lobbying from industry led many to think that the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF; Tokyo) would choose a less stringent option, such as the introduction of labels indicating the nonuse of GMOs.

Thomas Foley, US ambassador to Japan, responded by issuing a statement indicating the US government's disapproval of MAFF's plan, while Japanese industry and consumer advocacy groups criticized the ministry's decision as being rash and poorly considered. MAFF has yet to decide whether the regulation should be mandatory or voluntary. To help it decide, the Japanese government is currently carrying out a nationwide public-opinion survey and is expected to announce its final decision sometime this month.

“Brummer has an idea to present, and the way business has been we've got to consider every stupid possibility.”