“Additional Understandings on Beef Issue”: Vershbow

U.S. Ambassador to Korea Alexander Vershbow said yesterday, “I believe there will be additional understandings between Korea and the United States regarding imports of U.S. beef from cattle older than 30 months.”

The ambassador made the remark in a luncheon lecture entitled “Korea-U.S. Alliance: Furthering Interests of the Peoples and Free Trade Agreement” at the War Memorial of Korea in Yongsan, Seoul. He also said, “A variety of discussions are going on between the two countries’ governments and importers and exporters to address public concern over the safety of U.S. beef.”

Asked about the content of the understandings, he said, “As various discussions are going on now, I cannot talk about the specifics.”

However, the ambassador also reconfirmed the United States’ “no renegotiation” stance by saying, “Just like Korea saying there’s no need to renegotiate the issue, the United States does not support renegotiation either.”

He also added, “The agreement on U.S. beef written in April will remain the same, and the concern over the safety of U.S. beef will be addressed without renegotiation.”

jin0619@donga.com