May 21, 2008

US seeks answers from South Korea on beef protocol statement
 

The US is seeking answers from the South Korean government after its spokesman Lee Dong-Kwan told Reuters that Seoul would be announcing a revised beef protocol prohibiting the import of US beef from cattle older than 30 months of age.
 

The US Trade Representative (USTR) said they have raised their concerns with the South Korean government in regards to the statement told to Reuters. South Korea is now looking into the matter, the USTR said.

South Korea had agreed to allow bone-in and boneless US beef from cattle of all ages as long as specific risk materials associated with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease, were removed.

Imports were scheduled to begin on last Thursday (May 15, 2008) but it has been delayed due to unexpected fierce objections from both citizens and legislators who feared the safety of US beef.

Thousands of South Koreans have also attended candlelight vigils, calling on their government to scrap the beef deal.

Local reaction forced the South Korean government to back-pedal, at first stating that it would stop imports of US beef if the US reports a new BSE case. Washington agreed to that, but refused to budge when South Korea calls to re-negotiate the beef deal.