South Korea considers return of U.S. beef imports

South Korea considers return of U.S. beef imports    South Korea entered talks this week with the United States to re-establish a trade in imports of American beef shipments.
   According to the Associated Press on Monday, the two-day meeting, which started in Seoul Monday, is “not expected to lead to an immediate reopening of what was previously the third-largest market for U.S. beef after Japan and Mexico.”
   The AP noted that South Korea is keen on receiving imports of American beef ribs.
   South Korea, like most countries, banned U.S. beef shipments after the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or brain-wasting “mad cow” disease, in a Washington state cow in late December 2003.
   In 2003, the United States exported 246,595 metric tons of beef products to South Korea in 2003 valued at $814.6 million, 26 percent higher than 2002, the U.S. Meat Export Federation said.
   Since the ban, Australia and New Zealand have become the top beef shippers to South Korea, the AP said.