January 26, 2004

South Korea and US To Hold Beef Trade Talks This Week

South Korea will hold its second round of beef trade resumption talks with the United States this week, officials said on Saturday.

A high-powered U.S. delegation will meet with Agriculture and Forestry Minister Huh Sang-man Tuesday to discuss the issue, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry said.

Washington's negotiators will be led by J.B. Penn, undersecretary of agriculture for farm and foreign agricultural services.

"The U.S. side plans to deliver a message from U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman to Minister Huh, but it has yet to inform us of the meeting's specific agenda," a ministry official said.

The United States is widely expected to demand South Korea to lift its ban imposed Dec. 22 after a mad cow case was discovered in America last year.

The two sides met Dec. 30 to discuss Korea's move, but the talks ended without progress. At the meeting, South Korea rejected a U.S. request to accept beef sent before Dec. 23.

South Korea is the third-largest importer of U.S. beef, receiving shipments worth $655.9 million last year, according to government data.