The U.S. and Japan will hold talks next week on easing Tokyo's import standards on American beef.

The Japanese government says that the U.S. has requested technical talks which will likely open next week.

Japan currently allows the import of U.S. beef under 20 months old that is free of parts that could pose a risk of mad cow disease.

The U.S. is expected to call for eased standards that will include meat parts from cattle under 30 months old and do away with risk part removal measures.