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Johanns says South Korea better do so [re-open its markets to U.S. beef], or risk jeopardizing a U.S.-South Korean Free Trade…



Johanns: Congress losing patience with South Korea on beef



August 15, 2006

by Peter Shinn

Brownfield



U.S. Ag Secretary Mike Johanns told reporters in Lincoln, Nebraska, Tuesday he’s convinced South Korea will re-open its markets to U.S. beef in a "matter of weeks, not months."



And Johanns says South Korea better do so, or risk jeopardizing a U.S.-South Korean Free Trade Agreement that's currently being negotiated. "Not only are we working the beef issue, but we're also starting to work a trade agreement with South Korea," said Johanns. "And folks on the Hill are saying, 'Look, we're not going to look kindly at a trade agreement unless we can solve this basic issue of returning beef to your marketplace.'"



As Nebraska GOP Senator Chuck Hagel nodded in agreement, Johanns said members of Congress were becoming frustrated with South Korea's continued ban of U.S. beef. "The other thing I will say, and you can see it," Johanns said, "the Senate and the House, they're going to get very impatient about South Korea..."



Earlier this month, 31 U.S. Senators sent a letter to South Korea's president, urging him to re-open his country's market to U.S. beef. But no legislation to impose sanctions on South Korea over the beef issue has yet been introduced.



Still, Johanns said, "We're doing fine with South Korea..." He said U.S. and South Korean negotiators are working through some "last issues" on resuming beef trade. South Korean inspectors are returning to some U.S. packing plants next week.



South Korea used to be America's third largest beef export market in terms of value, worth roughly $800 million in 2003, the last full year that market was open to U.S. beef. South Korea closed its market to U.S. beef after USDA found a dairy cow in Washington State with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) on December 23rd, 2003. That first case of BSE involved a cow imported from Canada. USDA has since found two cases of BSE in older native-born U.S. cattle.



Johanns made his comments at the National Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program Forum in Lincoln, Nebraska.





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