Korea Can Ban American Beef Imports

US Yet to Provide Legally Binding Documents

By Kim Yon-se
Staff Reporter

President Lee Myung-bak Tuesday welcomed Washington's backing of Seoul's plan to halt American beef imports if a new outbreak of mad cow disease occurs there.

The U.S. promised to respect South Korea's right to stop imports of beef if any cases of mad cow disease, or bovine spongidorm encephalopathy (BSE) are reported.

At a Cabinet meeting, President Lee said that the government could finally resolve public anxiety on the safety of American beef.

Some observers had warned that the government's stance could invite a trade dispute with the U.S., Lee noted, but added, ``all problems have been settled thanks to the U.S. decision to accept Seoul's plan.''

President Lee instructed the Cabinet to actively publicize the U.S. move, adding, ``The United States also acknowledged the fear of mad cow disease among Koreans.''

Lee also acknowledged that the government failed to communicate sufficiently with the public about food safety prior to its decision to fully open the local market to U.S. beef last month.

U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Susan C. Schwab said in a statement, ``The United States recognizes that Article 20 of the GATT (General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs) preserves Korea's right to take measures necessary to protect public health, so long as the requirements of that article are met.''

She said the GATT and the World Trade Organizations Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures preserve each country's ``sovereignty'' so that every government can ensure the safety of its citizens, and that includes food safety.

Critics are skeptical about the feasibility of this, saying Schwab's comments could be regarded as ``lip-service,'' to appease Korean concerns. They said Washington must guarantee such commitments ``in legally-binding documents,'' not in statements.

They said the United States has no willingness to revise the ``original'' bilateral accord, which blocks Korea from suspending imports of American beef even if BSE were to occur there.

For a revision of the agreement ― instead of just a verbal promise ― they should hold renegotiations, they added. Washington has already dismissed the possibility of new talks.

Sohn Hak-kyu, co-chairman of the main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP), expressed conditional willingness to help ratify a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States.

Prerequisites include postponing the government's notification of beef import terms scheduled for Thursday and conducting renegotiations on them, he said at a decision-making Supreme Council meeting.

Other opposition parties, the Democratic Labor Party and the Renewal of Korea Party, also said they would discuss the FTA ratification only when the beef safety issue was resolved.

kys@koreatimes.co.kr