|
Korea has agreed to resume only the import of boneless U.S. beef six months after halting it over the discovery of bone chips in just-resumed shipments. In bilateral agricultural talks in Washington on Tuesday, Assistant Agriculture Minister Min Dong-seok told Richard Crowder, chief agricultural negotiator with the U.S. Trade Representative¡¯s Office, Seoul will resume only import of boneless U.S. beef, according to a Korean negotiator.
But Korea will only return beef in which bone chips are found. Korea made the decision in a recent meeting of economy-related ministers chaired by Finance and Economy Minister Kwon O-kyu. Crowder reportedly said he had no objection to the new measure.
Since Seoul halted the import of U.S. beef last year, Washington has demanded that Seoul permit the import of beef on the bone. However, a bilateral agreement to resume beef imports last year specified only boneless meat. The Korean government apparently made the decision because it expects the U.S. to intensify pressure on Korea to open the beef market in free trade talks.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
|
