November 16, 2010

US beef looks for re-entry into Asian market

US is seeking to export beef to major Asian markets, reiterates United States Trade Representative (USTR) Ron Kirk.

"US beef has been shut out of most of Southeast Asia for the last 10 years, and so we are looking for re-entry into this market, not only in Korea but in Japan and China and others," said Kirk.

South Korean and US trade officials strived to conclude the KORUS Free Trade Agreement (FTA) during the G20 Seoul Summit on November 11-12, but failed to iron out differences over the import of US beef.

Kirk added that the US aims to conclude the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) by next year's APEC gathering in Honolulu.

"We hope that the TPP members create the most forward-leaning high-standard trade agreement ever engaged in. What we are ultimately creating will become the Free-Trade Agreement of the Asia-Pacific," Kirk explained.