|
South Korea won't open for beef
WASHINGTON (AP)--The top U.S. trade negotiator said Feb. 15 that the U.S. is extremely disappointed with South Korea's refusal to fully open its market to U.S. beef. U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab told lawmakers that South Korea understands that chances are slim that the U.S. Congress would approve a successful free trade agreement between the countries without having the beef issue resolved. A seventh round of long-running U.S.-South Korean free trade negotiations ended Feb. 14 with no major breakthrough on a deal to slash tariffs and other trade barriers between the countries. Negotiators agreed to meet the week of March 5 in South Korea to continue talks on an accord they say would boost ties between the two strategic allies and add to the current $72 billion a year in two-way trade. But the beef issue remains a major hurdle. South Korea suspended U.S. beef imports for almost three years after Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy was found in the U.S. in 2003. South Korea agreed last year to resume imports of boneless beef, but the first three shipments that arrived were turned away after bone fragments were found. South Korea was the third-largest market for U.S. beef before the 2003 ban. B 15 2/26/07 1 Star WK Date: 2/22/07
Copyright/Privacy
Copyright 1995-2008. High Plains Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Any republishing of these pages, including electronic reproduction of the editorial archives or classified advertising, is strictly prohibited. If you have questions or comments you can reach us at High Plains Journal 1500 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd., P.O. Box 760, Dodge City, KS 67801 or call 1-800-452-7171. Email: webmaster@hpj.com |
| ||||||||||||||||||||
