November 2, 2004

Taiwan and Korea Undecided on Resumption of US Beef Imports

Korea and Taiwan have not decided whether or not to restart US beef imports.

US Department of Agriculture officials visited the two countries last week, but no formal agreements have been announced.

Japan has already eased the ban it placed on US imports when a case of BSE was found in Washington last Christmas.

Peter Weekes from Meat and Livestock Australia says any decision will be a political one.

"In Taiwan and in Korea, for example, and even in Japan, they have their own domestic industries to look after as well.

"So there are many sensitivities surrounding it, not just political; I mean they're to do with their own local industries and their own local consumers as well."