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Cattle farmers protest as South Korean, U.S. officials discuss
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)--Cattle farmers protested Feb. 7 as U.S. and South Korean officials discussed easing restrictions on imports of American beef, an issue Washington says threatens to scuttle a possible free trade agreement. About 30 South Korean farmers chanted "No U.S. beef, no more talks" and burned an effigy of a U.S. cow painted with anti-free trade slogans in Anyang, just south of Seoul, the site of the two-day talks. Farmers say imports of cheaper foreign agricultural products threaten their livelihood, and question their safety. South Korea banned all imports of U.S. beef in December 2003 after the first reported U.S. case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy. Before the ban, South Korea was the third-largest overseas market for American beef. After tough negotiations, Seoul agreed last year to allow a partial resumption of imports, but specified that only boneless meat from cattle less than 30 months old would be permitted because it is considered safer from BSE . But tiny bone fragments were found in all three subsequent shipments from the U.S., which were rejected for violating the agreement. The U.S. responded angrily, defending the safety of American beef and accusing South Korea of using the issue of bone fragments to continue a de facto import ban. The issue of the rejected beef, though not technically part of ongoing free trade talks between South Korea and the United States, has cast a shadow over them. Assistant U.S. Trade Representative Wendy Cutler, Washington's negotiator in free trade talks with South Korea, said last month that a deal would not be reached unless South Korea fully reopens its market to American beef. The issue seems to have divided the South Korean government. Ambassador Kim Jong-hoon, Cutler's counterpart in the free trade talks, said at a forum Feb. 7 that not all bones are dangerous and their presence doesn't automatically mean beef is infected with BSE , according to his office. The meeting, billed a "technical consultation," was requested by Washington. The U.S. is represented by Charles Lambert, a deputy undersecretary of agriculture. Yoon Young-goo, an official at South Korea's Agriculture and Forestry Ministry, had no information on the progress of the talks. The U.S. Embassy also had no immediate comment. South Korea's vice minister of agriculture and forestry, Park Hae-sang, told reporters Feb. 7 that Seoul would stick to its principle of importing boneless meat, according to his office. 5 Star OK 2/19/07 24 B Date: 2/13/07
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