Korea Times 06-06-2008

US Targets Full Opening of Asian Beef Market

By Kim Yon-se
Staff Reporter

The Bush administration, whose major political funding sources allegedly involve ranchers, is likely to urge China and Japan to fully'' open their beef markets, citing the negotiation results with South Korea. At the beginning of the year, the U.S. National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) mapped out aBeef Export Access Five Point Plan,’’ aimed at full opening of the three big Asian markets among others.

After a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) was discovered in a Canadian cow in the United States in December 2003, most export markets closed.

The association said, We must continue to work toward normalized trade with key export markets such as South Korea, Japan and China.'' It is also apparently targeting Taiwan. The U.S. beef industry ― targeting major Asian countries including Korea ― will not be in disposed to leave anunfavorable’’ example, such as renegotiations, many Korean experts say.

The NCBA also said, America's cattlemen rely on our nation's policymakers to support a pro-trade agenda in order to grow their businesses and help support the U.S. economy.'' The association emphasized that opening the Korean market wasthe most significant bilateral trade deal ever for U.S. beef producers, but we need meaningful trade for this to work.’’

Successfully-negotiated trade agreements help expand our international markets for beef and other agricultural goods, while simultaneously stimulating economic growth, it said. A vote for expanding trade is a vote for American agriculture and small business.'' When Korea finally decided tofully’’ open the beef market in April, NCBA chief economist Gregg Doud said that the U.S. beef industry owes a huge debt of gratitude to President Bush'' and his administration, as well as ourtrade negotiators’’ and members of Congress'' for this historic undertaking on the issue of the Korean beef trade.For U.S. beef trade, the Korean FTA could be could be the biggest and most important bilateral trade agreement in history,’’ Doud said.