By The long fight over US beef imports into Korea appears to have finely reached a conclusion:
Buoyed by Seoul’s decision to resume US beef imports, President George W. Bush and South Korea’s leader Lee Myung-bak hold talks Friday on pressing ahead with a huge free trade deal and fortifying their half-century security alliance. (…)
On the eve of the Bush-Lee talks, South Korea announced it has agreed to give US beef greater access to its market, a fillip to a free trade agreement (FTA) signed about a year ago but still unratified by their legislatures.
South Korea banned import of US beef in 2003 due to mad cow fears. It eased the ban in 2006 but effectively halted all imports last October.
Washington wanted full access to the beef market for any ratification.
"Both sides reached an agreement on gradual expansion of US beef imports," South Korea’s Assistant Agriculture Minister Min Dong-Seok said in Seoul.
But US Trade Representative Susan Schwab said in Washington the agreement represented reopening the Korean market "to all US beef and beef products, from cattle of all ages." [AFP]
Once again I will state that competent leadership has returned to Korea because the Free Trade Agreement is going to benefit both countries and has only been held up by partisan politics on each side. Lee has now removed the barrier to the FTA in Korea and now President Bush will have to work to do the same in the US.
I do want to point out a minor error in the AFP article though:
Although the two have not met before, they share a business background, conservative free market principles and strong Christian values.
Lee and Bush actually met late last year when Lee was campaigning to become the president of Korea. The meeting with Bush was a clear sign who the Bush Administration was backing in the December election. This summit with Lee is just a sign of the stronger ties that Lee is trying build with the US which much like the FTA is something that is beneficial to both countries.
4:09 am on April 19th, 2008 1
In the Korea Time article it stated, "Under the revised rules, South Korea will not be able to halt quarantine inspections even if a suspected mad cow case has been reported, said the assistant minister." That means if a mad cow case pops up, the beef keeps flowing.
Then it said on the last line, "Seoul also reserved the right to halt quarantine inspections, which effectively stopped imports in the past." Which means it will stop the meat if it feels like it.
If we understand this right, the ROK buckled to the US "no beef import — no FTA" threat, BUT said it could put the same system to block imports if it wants to. Meaning? If the FTA doesn't go through, it is back to business as usual is the way we see it.
4:21 am on April 19th, 2008 2
Wait for iiiiiiit.
Wait for iiiiiiit.
Waaaaaaaait.
Chickhead remark about beef/jerkin gherkin/tubesteak/ barbershop discounts.
Goal!
4:21 am on April 19th, 2008 3
Oh…I thought the Bush-Lee meeting was cancelled — mostly on the part of the White House — simply because it WOULD have given the impression of Bush's support of the Lee candidacy. A definite no-no in interference in another nation's politics. In addition,the Uri/UDP raised holy hell when it was announced.
8:30 am on April 19th, 2008 4
A Korean promise in this area is meaningless. They want an agreement to promote unfettered human trafficing known as the VWP. Once they get an agreement they will revert back to their mercantilistic trade practices.
11:25 am on April 19th, 2008 5
A Comparison of Imported American Beef and American Beef
One is measured by the pound. The other is measured by the inch.
One has come from an American cow. The other has gone into an American cow.
If either one is forced on the Korean public, there will be a riot and some sort of police involvement.
One is inspected at a port of entry by a uniformed Korean government official. The other is inspected in a public restroom by the drunk ajashi in a rumpled suit standing uncomfortably close.
Korean girls will swallow imported American beef.
They both can be found at E-Mart one level below men's clothes and next to the eggs.
Korean women love American beef tail. American beef loves Korean woman tail.
Hard bone instead of soft meat is a requirement for one and an illegality for the other.
Korean girls don't squeak if filled with imported American beef.
USFK is a major supplier of both.
If you fill a Korean girl with one in the evening, you have a better chance of filling her with the other that night.
One is purchased in a glass-fronted shop with pink lights. The other MAKES a purchase in a glass-fronted shop with pink lights.
If one comes directly from Outback, a Korean girl will eat it without question. If the other comes directly from out back, she will make you wash if first.
A Korean schoolgirl has no power to reject a shipment of either one.
Koreans are unimpressed if the end of imported American beef hits the floor.
If contaminated, one must be destroyed but the other only needs a shot.
Korean girls always like it well done. They will come again. And ask for seconds.
If one is rejected, it goes to the World Trade Organization for arbitration. The other goes home with blue balls.
One is wrapped tightly in plastic and kept hard in a brown box until it's time to be eaten. No. Wait. They both are.
Ajuma can't be seen showing interest in public. Privately, she will eat as much as she can get.
5:56 pm on April 21st, 2008 6
sesame seed,
You got what you asked for and didn't even comment?
Awww… disappointing.
6:49 am on April 23rd, 2008 7
[...] It looks like this is the concession President Bush gave to South Korean President Lee Myung-bak during their summit this week in order to resume the sale of US beef in Korea: [...]
3:03 pm on April 24th, 2008 8
[...] Click here to read more. Click here to return to Korea Click here to return to MySpace News. [...]
11:50 pm on April 24th, 2008 9
Thank you ChickenHead.
I don’t know how you do it, but that’s some funny stuff!