December 20, 2006

South Korea rejects poultry talks

South Korea has rejected a US request to discuss American poultry imports as part of broader free trade talks, setting the stage for a widening of the ongoing trade dispute involving US beef shipments to South Korea.

South Korea and the US are negotiating the FTA, which they hope to wrap up early next year.

The US has asked that American beef imports and the easing of import bans on poultry products during bird flu outbreaks be discussed in this week's session, according to South Korea's Agriculture and Forestry Ministry, adding that working level discussions on sanitary and quarantine issues were delayed because of the US request.