Opposition Parties Criticize Latest US Beef Import Deal
By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter
Opposition parties called the latest deal to resume U.S. beef imports a ``face-saving'' measure that will not help protect South Koreans against the risks of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, more commonly called mad cow disease.
The governing Grand National Party (GNP) expressed hope that the deal would end the month-long beef controversy, and the nation should now concentrate its efforts on reviving the economy.
The U.S. government agreed it would operate an age verification system for the beef exports, known as a quality system assessment (QSA), with Korean beef importers and U.S. exporters reaching a commercial understanding that only U.S. beef from cattle under 30 months of age will be shipped to Korea.
The agreement also calls for banning imports of all specified risk materials (SRM) such as brains, eyes, skulls and spinal cords.
Seoul would also be allowed to inspect U.S. beef processing plants and could ban them from exporting products in accordance with new rules under the deal.
The main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) strongly criticized the additional measures, calling for a complete renegotiation of the resumption of the beef imports.
``The additional negotiations with the U.S. are just to appease public fear of mad cow disease. We feel despondent that the government keeps circumventing the issue,'' UDP spokeswoman Cha Young said. ``There is no other choice but to demand a renegotiation of the beef deal.''
The agreed QSA program, not legally binding, is less effective than the beef export verification (EV) program directly guaranteed and controlled by the U.S. administration, she added.
GNP spokeswoman Cho Yun-seon said, ``We need to recognize the government's efforts to safeguard the people's health and food security, and the nation's `quarantine sovereignty,' even at the risk of a possible backlash on the country's international credit standing.''
``Coming out of a dark and long tunnel, we have to join forces now to come up with measures to help save the economy and improve the people's livelihood,'' she said. ``In that regard, today should mark a fresh start toward the future of the nation and national interest, putting an end to the U.S. beef controversy.''
Cheong Wa Dae hailed the results, expressing the wish that the additional deal will help defuse public concerns about the safety of American beef.
``The result of the additional beef trade negotiations exceeded our expectations, as South Korea will be able to secure its quarantine sovereignty to a great extent and the U.S. export of beef from cattle older than 30 months to Korea will be banned,'' said presidential spokesman Lee Dong-kwan.
The latest agreement has to be seen from the angle of an alliance, instead of a simple trade issue, he said. ``The government did its best, so we expect the people to have a full understanding of the outcome.''