November 20, 2007

US beef exporters air grievances with ITC

US beef exporters on last week aired their complaints to the International Trade Commission against South Korea's trade barriers on US beef.

At a hearing called by the commission, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association said those barriers were costing the industry billions. US beef exports would have totalled US$1.53 billion on a fully open Seoul market, according to Yonhap news.

The NCBA said US has lost an estimated 1.453 million tonnes valued at US$4.8 billion from 2004 to 2007 due to South Korea's restrictions. The group also added that the sector suffered additional losses by virtue of retaining domestic beef that could have been sold overseas.

Thursday's hearing was part of ITC's ongoing investigation of the tiff between Washington and Seoul.

Eric Nelson, chairman of the R-CALF USA Trade Committee, criticized Washington for failing to take appropriate actions, Yonhap reported.

He said the "US grants expanded access to our market for imports of cattle and beef before our access to lost export markets is fully restored, enabling important export customers to drag their feet on market access as imports gain a growing share of the US market."