May 7, 2011

South Korea has no intentions to widen market for US beef

South Korea is not looking at further opening its market to US beef, and the government would cautiously deal with possible calls from the US to hold beef talks, a high-ranking trade official said Friday (May 6).

The US government said Wednesday (May 4) it will ask to consult with South Korea on possible wider access to the South Korean beef market once the pending free-trade deal with South Korea takes effect. US Trade Representative Ron Kirk made the pledge in a letter to Senator Max Baucus, who represents the ranching state of Montana and heads the Senate Finance Committee.

South Korea bans shipments of beef from cattle over 30 months old due to fears of mad cow disease, which prompted weeks of street rallies against US beef in Seoul in 2008.

"The government's stance on the issue still remains firm," Deputy Trade Minister Choi Seok-young told reporters. "The US could ask for a wider opening of the beef market, and we could respond to talks, but it does not mean a further opening of our beef market."

The US has been pressing South Korea to lift all barriers on beef trade.

However, beef trade has been a political issue in South Korea. President Lee Myung-bak had to apologise in 2008 after agreeing to allow imports, which triggered candlelight vigils by tens of thousands of people concerned about food safety.

The protests prompted US producers to limit exports to cattle younger than 30 months, which may have a lower risk for mad-cow disease.

Beef was also not discussed in December when Seoul and Washington produced a supplemental agreement to address US concerns over lopsided auto trade, the biggest hurdle to congressional approval of the Korea FTA, signed in 2007 under the Bush administration.