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S.Korea to limit U.S. beef imports to young cattle
Thu Jun 19, 2008 (Reuters) - South Korea's embattled president said on Thursday the country would not allow the entry of U.S. beef without a guarantee from the U.S. government that exports would be restricted to products from younger cattle.
"We've asked the U.S. government to guarantee that beef exports should be limited to products from cattle less than 30 months old," South Korean President Lee Myung-bak told reporters in a televised news conference.
Lee sealed an agreement with the United States in April to resume U.S. beef exports to South Korea, a move which angered South Koreans and sparked off daily street protests that eventually snowballed into demonstrations against his unpopular government.
South Koreans fear that beef from cattle older than 30 months carries a greater risk of mad cow disease.
"Any voluntary agreement between exporters and importers is not enough and I believe the U.S. government will accept this, but if not, we will hold off inspections and won't be able to import (U.S. beef)," the South Korean leader said on Thursday.
U.S. officials have been huddled in private discussions on the April beef agreement since South Korean Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon arrived in Washington on Friday, but so far neither side has heralded a breakthrough.
The United States has long insisted its beef is safe, and is looking to regain access to several key markets in Asia and rebuild exports crippled by the discovery of mad cow disease in the United States in 2003.
U.S. administration officials are also eager to resume beef trade with South Korea so they can move ahead in lobbying Congress to approve a major bilateral trade deal with the Asian country, once the third-largest buyer of U.S. beef.
Lee apologised again on Thursday for the U.S. beef import agreement and vowed that his government would secure firm assurances from Washington.
South Korea imposed a blanket ban on the product in late 2003 following a U.S. mad cow disease outbreak. (Reporting by Miyoung Kim and Jack Kim; Editing by Jonathan Hopfner and Valerie Lee) (For related story please see [nSEO3836] and for related factbox see [nSEO141063]) ([email protected].; +822 3704 5651; Reuters Messaging: [email protected].))
Thu Jun 19, 2008 (Reuters) - South Korea's embattled president said on Thursday the country would not allow the entry of U.S. beef without a guarantee from the U.S. government that exports would be restricted to products from younger cattle.
"We've asked the U.S. government to guarantee that beef exports should be limited to products from cattle less than 30 months old," South Korean President Lee Myung-bak told reporters in a televised news conference.
Lee sealed an agreement with the United States in April to resume U.S. beef exports to South Korea, a move which angered South Koreans and sparked off daily street protests that eventually snowballed into demonstrations against his unpopular government.
South Koreans fear that beef from cattle older than 30 months carries a greater risk of mad cow disease.
"Any voluntary agreement between exporters and importers is not enough and I believe the U.S. government will accept this, but if not, we will hold off inspections and won't be able to import (U.S. beef)," the South Korean leader said on Thursday.
U.S. officials have been huddled in private discussions on the April beef agreement since South Korean Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon arrived in Washington on Friday, but so far neither side has heralded a breakthrough.
The United States has long insisted its beef is safe, and is looking to regain access to several key markets in Asia and rebuild exports crippled by the discovery of mad cow disease in the United States in 2003.
U.S. administration officials are also eager to resume beef trade with South Korea so they can move ahead in lobbying Congress to approve a major bilateral trade deal with the Asian country, once the third-largest buyer of U.S. beef.
Lee apologised again on Thursday for the U.S. beef import agreement and vowed that his government would secure firm assurances from Washington.
South Korea imposed a blanket ban on the product in late 2003 following a U.S. mad cow disease outbreak. (Reporting by Miyoung Kim and Jack Kim; Editing by Jonathan Hopfner and Valerie Lee) (For related story please see [nSEO3836] and for related factbox see [nSEO141063]) ([email protected].; +822 3704 5651; Reuters Messaging: [email protected].))
