Australia courted Japanese meat-eaters at a beef-tasting party Wednesday, offering to increase exports to Japan by 80 percent to replace the American supply after Tokyo banned U.S. beef over fears of mad cow disease.

Ambassador John McCarthy told assembled television cameras that Australian beef is suited to Japanese palates, displaying a long table lined with sukiyaki, beef stew and lightly grilled meat with citrus and soy-based dipping sauce.

"This is to give people an opportunity to see what Australian beef tastes like," McCarthy told a TV reporter before taking a bite of marbled beef set on a bed of rice. "Oishii desu," he said for the camera, using the Japanese phrase for "Tastes good."

Even before Tokyo banned imports of U.S. beef in December, Australia was Japan's biggest source of beef. Last year, Australia shipped some 279,000 tons of beef to Japan, accounting for some 50 percent of the foreign supply.

But the loss of U.S. beef, which accounted for much of the remainder of Japan's overseas supply, has left a large hole -- one that McCarthy made clear Australia is willing to fill.

McCarthy told reporters Australia is ready to increase exports by 80 percent, adding that cattle farmers are also prepared to better satisfy Japanese tastes by feeding more of their cows grains rather than just grass.

The troubles of Australia's greatest rival in the beef industry will no doubt be a boon to its ranchers. But McCarthy stressed Canberra is not attempting to capitalize on last year's discovery of a single case of mad cow, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy, in Washington state.

"Australia wants to help Japan. We see it in our interests, and in Japan's interests that we help," McCarthy said. "But we see absolutely no advantage to us in BSE. It's a scourge and we have to work internationally to get rid of it, and we will do our utmost in that endeavor."

Indeed, Japan has been the one urging Australia to increase its exports. Within days after it banned U.S. beef imports, Tokyo sent delegations to Canberra to try to determine if Australia could send more beef its way.

But McCarthy also criticized Japan for maintaining high tariffs on beef while simultaneously trying to increase the flow of beef.

"It is a little bit illogical that at a time when Japan needs more imported beef, the tariff is higher," McCarthy said. "We find that a little bit curious. Other exporters find that a little bit curious, and we suspect many Japanese find it a little bit curious."