February 9, 2006

US wants South Korea to relax beef import requirements
 

The US will push South Korea to resume imports of US bone-in beef, an official with the US Embassy in South Korea said Wednesday.

The country has agreed only to import lean, boneless meat from cattle under 30 months old. However US rib-cuts, an item once popular in South Korea, were excluded.

Although the US welcomes the resumption of beef imports in South Korea, the move did not spell the end of the problem, the official, who declined to be named, told reporters.

US beef had been banned since December 2003, when the first outbreak of mad cow disease was reported in the country. The ban was partially lifted in January to ease the way for free-trade talks.

The official said the opening of South Korea's financial markets would be the main subject of trade negotiations between South Korea and the US in May. The US hopes South Korea can create an environment where US financial institutions can invest freely in the South Korean market, the official said.