US wants to link beef exports to FTA

By Kim Tae-guy

Despite general expectations, the United States is seemingly trying to put the beef issue on the table during talks with Korea in Seoul on their yet-to-be-ratified free trade agreement (FTA) inked in 2007.

After having a last-ditch meeting with his U.S. counterpart Ron Kirk to find a happy medium for approval of the bilateral pact, Korea’s Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon said Monday that the U.S. Trade Representative raised the beef issue.

The two trade chiefs began two-day negotiations to abide by a self-imposed deadline of having a renewed deal in place before the leaders of the two countries meet on the sidelines of the G20 Seoul Summit later this week.

``It is true that the U.S. representatives expressed interests in the beef topic. But they are also aware that our consumption of U.S. beef is increasing,’’ Kim told a press conference.

``We have to think about the topic very carefully because it is of national interest and extremely significant. Our basic stance is that beef has nothing to do with the FTA. We have yet to talk about beef.’’

According to observers, Kim’s remarks indicate that the U.S. has a shot at pushing ahead with the opening up of Korea’s beef market, which Seoul would not accept.

``Many thought that the U.S. would focus on automotive issues instead of dealing with beef. But Kim’s comments show that the country is ready to take issue with the former and get concessions from Seoul via such a maneuver,’’ a Seoul analyst said.

In the wake of three alleged mad cow disease reports in the mid-2000s in the world’s largest economy, Seoul banned imports of U.S. beef in 2003

In the hope of getting U.S. agreement on the FTA, the Lee Myung-bak administration partially resumed imports of U.S. beef products in late 2008 in spite of protests and massive street rallies.

The country accepted U.S. beef from cattle less than 30 months old due to worries that mad cow disease typically occurs in older cattle. However, the U.S. has asked Korea to scrap such a limitation.

Regarding automobiles, Kim said the U.S. expressed woes that Korea’s regulations on the environment and safety might work as entry barriers for U.S. players ― they have less than a 1- percent market share here.

Washington has demanded that Seoul ease standards on fuel consumption and emissions. Korea has Seoul countered that such regulations are important for the protection of the environment.

Meanwhile, Korean ministers related to the FTA held a contingency meeting late Monday to prepare for further negotiations between the two trade heads today.