Ban on Cookies Crumbles as Japan Undoes Its Duty

WASHINGTON — Problems with Japanese customs officials that barred a shipment of Girl Scout cookies from reaching sailors aboard the aircraft carrier Midway apparently have been resolved, Sen. Lloyd Bentsen (D-Tex.) said Monday.

Japanese customs blocked the first shipment of 402 boxes from a Corpus Christi, Tex., Brownie troop and assessed a $2,000 duty, which Brownie officials said was too steep for the children.

But the Japanese have relented and the cookies should be on their way again from the girls’ hometown airport to the Midway sometime today, Bentsen said. The ship is based in Atsugi, Japan.

“These cookies weren’t meant for Japanese consumption, so no duty should have been placed on them in the first place. But the Japanese government has now agreed to open the door. That’s good news for our sailors and for the Brownies from Troop 807,” Bentsen said.

Thirty-five servicemen aboard the Midway had ordered cookies from the Brownies, who had sent the men Christmas cards and a Valentine’s Day box of candy.

American Airlines had offered free passage and the cookies were shipped on April 26. Then they spent four days in a Japanese customs warehouse before being returned.