The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) office Thursday welcomed South Korea's announcement to reopen its beef market to American products.
"We are studying the statement released by Korea's
agricultural minister," USTR spokesman Sean Spicer was quoted as saying. "But we welcome his announcement."
South Korea plans to put into effect the newly agreed import standard for U.S. beef next week. Street protests opposing the new agreement gathered more impetus after the minister's announcement.
Agriculture Minister Chung Woon-chun explained that the newly negotiated standards recognize Seoul's rights to ban imports from the U.S. should they pose a serious health risk. South Korea stopped buying American beef in late 2003 soon after the discovery of a mad cow disease case at a U.S. cattle farm.