July 10, 2009
Canada takes South Korea beef dispute to WTO
Canada is taking its long-standing beef dispute with South Korea to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), after prior negotiations failed.
Ottawa said Thursday (Jul 9) it is requesting a WTO dispute settlement panel to resolve the spat over South Korea's six-year ban on Canadian beef.
Trade Minister Stockwell Day said recent consultations with South Korea had not produced the desired results.
South Korea banned imports of Canadian beef in May 2003 due to mad cow disease. Canadian beef has a "controlled risk" classification from the OIE in 2007, allowing Canada to export all beef parts except for certain specified risk materials (SRMs), but South Korea remains reluctant to lift the ban as a result of repeated occurrences of the disease in Canada.
Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said the international scientific community recognises the safety of Canadian beef, and they are confident that the WTO dispute panel would rule in their favour.
