U.S. Declines Beef Talks With S. Korea
United States officials say they will not meet with South Korean officials to discuss U.S. beef imports until they indicate the sit-down can lead to viable trade.
One USDA official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Dow Jones that merely discussing specific reasons why South Korea rejected U.S. beef shipments is not sufficient. Another USDA official said Seoul has declined to meet Washington’s demands.
“We can’t agree on an agenda,“ said the official, who also requested anonymity.
The United States started asking South Korea for a meeting in December, when Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns said Seoul “found a way to reject“ U.S. beef.
By Tom Johnston on Monday, January 15, 2007
United States officials say they will not meet with South Korean officials to discuss U.S. beef imports until they indicate the sit-down can lead to viable trade.
One USDA official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Dow Jones that merely discussing specific reasons why South Korea rejected U.S. beef shipments is not sufficient. Another USDA official said Seoul has declined to meet Washington’s demands.
“We can’t agree on an agenda,“ said the official, who also requested anonymity.
The United States started asking South Korea for a meeting in December, when Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns said Seoul “found a way to reject“ U.S. beef.
By Tom Johnston on Monday, January 15, 2007