South Korea Trade Agmt problems PDF Print E-mail
Written by Stumo   
Wednesday, 14 May 2008

The South Korea Free Trade Agreement is another outsourcing agreement.  It does not prevent currency manipulation.  It does not prevent South Korea from replacing any tariff reductions with value added taxes imposed upon U.S. goods.  It does not prevent South Korea from subsidizing exports with big tax rebates.  There are no satisfactory labor and environmental provisions.  The food and product safety harmonization rules are the same old stuff.

But beef has been a big holdup.  USDA and the USTR thought they had agreement, but South Korea is backing off again.

The article from Meatingplace.com is below the fold.

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Beef News S. Korea to delay resumption of U.S. beef imports 

By Tom Johnston on 5/14/2008 for Meatingplace.com 
Amid mounting public pressure, Seoul said it will delay resumption of U.S. beef imports.

Under a new trade protocol, South Korea was slated on Thursday to fully resume quarantine inspections of U.S. beef for the first time in four years.

"We are disappointed as we understand Korea is planning to announce tomorrow a temporary delay in implementing the protocol agreed to April 18th," Gretchen Hamel, spokewoman for the U.S. Trade Representative's office, told Meatingplace.com.

Protests from a public still not totally convinced about the safety of U.S. beef and opposition parties demanding the deal be re-negotiatied are apparently giving government officials the jitters.

"The Korean government received many more public comments than expected," Hamel said. "We understand that Korea will need more time to review these comments."

"I think we need a week to 10 days," Agriculture Minister Chung Woon-chun told the Korean parliament, according to Reuters.

A failure to educate

Even President Lee Myung-bak has admitted the government failed to educate the public on the beef deal and the safety of U.S. beef.

Nevertheless, U.S. officials expect the deal to be fully implemented.

"We expect the Korean government to live up to the agreement," Hamel said.
 

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Washington, October 22, 2008 - Keith Bolin, ACGA President and Bureau Co., IL farmer and hog producer, announces the American Corn Growers 22nd Annual Convention in Coralville, IA, January 15-16, 2009 at the Marriott Hotel and Conference Center. "Food, Conservation, Energy & Trade 2009" will boast a line-up of well-known industry leaders who will address the current policies and practices of food, conservation, energy and trade.  

Find more information on this event here.