December 3, 2010

Canada remains optimistic on South Korean beef trade talks

The Canadian beef industry is cautiously positive that Canada and South Korea will resolve a seven-year beef trade dispute outside of the World Trade Organization, a major official said Wednesday (Dec 1).

South Korea is the only country maintaining its ban on Canadian beef since an outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease, in 2003.

Canada, the third-largest beef exporter, has complained to the WTO that the ban is unfair. However, a ruling is not expected before summer and the ultimate conclusion may be years away. Canadian and South Korean officials have continued talking outside the WTO process.

"We think Korea really needs to offer a pretty substantial deal if we're going to stop this [WTO] process from carrying on. I'm a little bit optimistic, but I think we're all jaded in the fact that we've had promises before with Korea," said Brad Wildeman, past-president of the Canadian Cattlemen's Association and chairman of a beef group that advises Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz.