Korea`s Right to Ban U.S. Beef Imports Confirmed

A letter between Korean and U.S. trade ministers has confirmed Seoul’s right to suspend U.S. beef imports if mad cow disease breaks out in the United States.

Six more parts of U.S. beef from cows older than 30 months have been added to the list of banned U.S. beef products.

Korean Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon told a news briefing on the outcome of additional agreements on U.S. beef safety yesterday that he exchanged the letter with U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab and U.S. Ambassador to Korea Alexander Vershbow.

Seoul and Washington have been carrying out additional consultations on the imports since Thursday last week.

Kim said, “Korea accordingly has the right to ban U.S. beef imports if another case of mad cow disease is reported and poses a threat to Koreans’ health. (The two countries) confirmed Korea’s sovereign right.”

“The letter also says U.S. beef products fall under U.S. regulations on specified risk materials, and that (Korean) inspectors have the right to take measures if this regulation is violated. The letter exchanged at the ministerial level has considerable binding power.”

According to Korea-U.S. negotiations on import safety conditions concluded April 18, Korea cannot ban U.S. beef imports as long as the World Organization for Animal Health keeps its classification of the U.S. as a country that controls mad cow disease, even if another case of the disease is reported in the United States.

Accordingly, six parties allowed in the negotiations have been added to the category of SRM parts.

The proposed ban on beef imports from cows older than 30 months, however, was not discussed in the letter. Therefore, resistance from Korea’s main opposition party and civic organizations is expected to continue.

parky@donga.com