South Korea reopens borders to U.S. beef imports

South Korea reopens borders to U.S. beef imports The South Korean government has agreed to reopen its borders to U.S. beef imports.
   South Korea stopped U.S. beef imports after the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or “mad cow” disease, in a Washington state cow in late December 2003.
   Since then, most countries have re-established trade in U.S. beef imports. South Korea, traditionally one of the larger U.S. beef export markets by value, has been one of the last holdouts. The U.S. Meat Export Federation estimated the beef trade to South Korea before the 2003 closure to be $3.5 billion to $4 billion.
   The beef debate between South Korea and United States had also been one of the chief roadblocks to Congress approving the U.S.-South Korea free trade agreement negotiated by the Bush administration.
   According to news reports this morning, South Korea’s Agriculture Ministry will allow U.S. beef imports from U.S.-raised cattle younger than 30 months of age. Cuts with bones will also be accepted.
   The Associated Press reported that South Korea’s trade negotiator Min Dong-seok, however, warned the country would immediately cut off U.S. beef imports if any future cases of mad cow disease surface in the United States. The World Organization for Animal Health has listed the United States as a “controlled risk nation,” essentially stating that it has sufficient anti-BSE safeguards in place to safely export cattle of any age.
   President Bush and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak will meet today in Washington for the start of a summit between the two countries.