U.S. beef packers won't ship to Korea without bone chip deal
Wednesday, October 4, 2006, 11:30 AM
by Peter Shinn
Audio related to this story
AUDIO: Interview with AMI Vice President for International Trade John Reddington (3 min MP3).
A report in a Korean newspaper this week suggests U.S. beef will soon be sold in South Korea. But where that U.S. beef might come from is something of a mystery.
John Reddington is Vice President of International Trade for the American Meat Institute (AMI). He told Brownfield that with no deal in place on bone chip tolerances, no major U.S. packers are willing to sell beef to South Korea.
"We have been in contact with USDA and have informed them that no company that is a member of AMI is willing to ship product to Korea without having some idea what would happen to product that has bone chips," Reddington said. "And I have heard from other associations that represent meat processors that have the same commitment by their members as well."
Reddington said USDA sent a letter to South Korea asking them to reconsider their position on bone chip tolerances, but has received no response. "I am not aware that Korea has responded to that letter," he said. "That letter went out more than a week ago."
And Reddington said until the bone chip issue is resolved, the U.S. beef industry will not support a U.S.-Korean Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which is currently under negotiation. "Unless Korea normalizes trade relations on beef with the United States, there's no way we can support an FTA," he asserted.
What's more, Reddington said the Bush administration knows it will have a tough time getting a free trade deal with Korea through Congress without the support of the U.S. beef industry. "That message has not been lost on USTR in the negotiations," Reddington said. "They understand the meat industry has a lot influence in Congress, and that it would be difficult to get an FTA passed if the beef industry isn't in agreement," he concluded.
Wednesday, October 4, 2006, 11:30 AM
by Peter Shinn
Audio related to this story
AUDIO: Interview with AMI Vice President for International Trade John Reddington (3 min MP3).
A report in a Korean newspaper this week suggests U.S. beef will soon be sold in South Korea. But where that U.S. beef might come from is something of a mystery.
John Reddington is Vice President of International Trade for the American Meat Institute (AMI). He told Brownfield that with no deal in place on bone chip tolerances, no major U.S. packers are willing to sell beef to South Korea.
"We have been in contact with USDA and have informed them that no company that is a member of AMI is willing to ship product to Korea without having some idea what would happen to product that has bone chips," Reddington said. "And I have heard from other associations that represent meat processors that have the same commitment by their members as well."
Reddington said USDA sent a letter to South Korea asking them to reconsider their position on bone chip tolerances, but has received no response. "I am not aware that Korea has responded to that letter," he said. "That letter went out more than a week ago."
And Reddington said until the bone chip issue is resolved, the U.S. beef industry will not support a U.S.-Korean Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which is currently under negotiation. "Unless Korea normalizes trade relations on beef with the United States, there's no way we can support an FTA," he asserted.
What's more, Reddington said the Bush administration knows it will have a tough time getting a free trade deal with Korea through Congress without the support of the U.S. beef industry. "That message has not been lost on USTR in the negotiations," Reddington said. "They understand the meat industry has a lot influence in Congress, and that it would be difficult to get an FTA passed if the beef industry isn't in agreement," he concluded.