October 8, 2007

South Korea stops US beef imports anew

South Korea has halted US beef imports on Friday (October 5), a month after resuming them, after discovering a shipment containing banned bones.

Beef has become one of the most debated issues in trade relations between the United States and South Korea, which have reached a controversial draft free trade agreement.

An agriculture ministry spokesman said South Korea found a box containing backbones, which are prohibited, in a shipment of beef that arrived last month.

The ministry expressed regret at the incident and told the United States it has stopped quarantine inspections, effectively meaning a suspension in imports.

Quoting a South Korean quarantine official, Agence France Presse reports inspections on US beef are suspended until both sides work out new rules. 

South Korea has suspended US beef imports several times, most recently in August, since it last year ended a three-year total ban imposed to keep out mad cow disease.

Under conditions for the imports, South Korea only accepts meat from cattle aged 30 months or less and requires the removal of bones, which are considered risky for disease.

The imports have also been a major source of trade friction between the United States and Japan, formerly the biggest overseas consumer of US beef.

South Korea was once the third largest market for US beef and the restrictions could intensify opposition to the free trade deal within the US Congress, which must approve the pact along with South Korea's National Assembly.