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The U.S. has agreed that Korea can suspend beef imports if mad cow disease should occur in America. A Trade Ministry official on Monday said the two have been holding talks since last weekend to resolve the issue, which has been subject to massive protests in Korea. He claimed the talks were ¡°not a renegotiation but follow-up talks on resolving the thorny issue."
They were led by Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon from Korea and USTR Ambassador Susan Schwab.
The two countries reportedly agreed in a separate instrument to make it possible for Korea to suspend U.S. beef imports, without having to revise provisions in the original treaty that bans Korea from suspending beef imports even if BSE should occur in the U.S. until the world organization for animal health (OIE) re-categorizes the country.
The two countries agreed to adopt a "diplomatic letter" to conclude the latest talks. They also agreed to add transverse processes and spinous processes of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar vertebrae -- beef parts that are defined as specified risk materials for BSE by the U.S. domestic standards but excluded from the original treaty -- under the category.
The government will now promulgate sanitary conditions for U.S. beef imports, including the additional agreement. This may happen as early as Friday after consultations with government agencies concerned, a ministry official said.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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