U.S. talks with South Korea about beef ban

Saturday June 14, 2008 (foodconsumer.org) -- Reuters reported on June 13 that the U.S. would meet Seoul's top trade official on Friday amid massive protests in South Korea against U.S. beef imports to ease the trade tension between the two countries.

Like Japan, South Korea is one of the countries that are picky enough to have doubts about the safety of U.S. beef. South Koreans are worried about mad cow disease. 

Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon was scheduled to meet Susan Schwab, the U.S. representative, Friday evening, Reuters reported. But no quick deal was expected to be made over the weekend to reopen the long-banned market in the third largest importing country of U.S. beef. 

South Koran President Lee Myung-bak, who took office just months ago, was said to be in hot water over his intention to allow U.S. beef back into the country. 

The first case of mad cow disease in the U.S., found in 2003, prompted South Korea to impose the ban. 

Unlike Japan, the U.S. does not test cows for mad cow disease before their meat heads to market. The U.S. government has repeatedly said cows younger than 30 months old are at low risk of the disease and prohibited private organizations from conducting any tests of mad cow disease in the country. 

Before leaving Washington, Kim said that he would seek measures to block imports of beef from cows aged older than 30 months.

By Sue Mueller, and edited by Heather Kelley.
Jun 14, 2008 - 12:44:38 PM