Assembly Hearing on US Beef Imports Due
By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
The National Assembly's ad hoc committee on U.S. beef imports decided Wednesday to hold a public hearing Sept. 5 with Prime Minister Han Seung-soo participating.
``Committee members agreed to have the prime minister answer questions regarding resumed imports of U.S. beef,'' said Rep. Choi Byung-gook of the governing Grand National Party (GNP) who chairs the committee. ``Also, Han said he respects the bipartisan decision and would take part in the hearing.''
The committee will receive reports from the Office of the Prime Minister and the Agriculture Ministry Aug. 28, as well as the Foreign Ministry and Welfare Ministry Aug. 29, he added.
The committee was scheduled to end its activities Wednesday but extended its duration to Sept. 5 in accordance with an accord struck between the GNP and the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) a day earlier.
However, analysts cast a murky view on the effectiveness of the committee's role because the hearing is set to be held for only one day, physically not enough to inquire 62 witnesses and trade-related officials.
Besides, committee members are expected to have difficulty clarifying doubts surrounding the resumption of the U.S. beef imports because the prime minister is scheduled to just deliver a speech without having a question-and-answer session during the hearing.
The parties dropped plans to have an on-site survey of U.S. ranches and other organizations regarding American beef.