US seeks to resolve South Korea beef issues

The incumbent US administration will present the pending free trade deal with South Korea to Congress after resolving outstanding issues on automobiles and beef.

The US Trade Representative (USTR) said they are determined how best to address outstanding issues in light of the recent agreement between the US President and the Korean President to move the agreement forward.

US officials said they want to address the imbalance in auto trade and restricted shipments of US beef to South Korea in side agreements without revising the text of the deal, signed in 2007. South Korea bans shipment of beef from cattle over 30 months old.

South Korea has called for the ratification of the free trade agreement by this summer, fearing that any further delay may jeopardise its passage this year due to the politically sensitive mid-term elections in November.