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food safety | SPS

food safety | sanitary and phytosanitary standards

Seoul raises possibility of suspending US beef imports
7-May-2008 Yonhap
Agriculture minister Chung Woon-chun told lawmakers that Seoul will take the unilateral step even if such a move could lead to trade disputes with Washington.
Tension mounts as S Koreans vow to protest over US beef despite police warning
6-May-2008 Yonhap
South Koreans opposing the government’s decision to import most US beef cuts vowed to continue candlelight vigils later Tuesday despite a police warning to stay away from political rallies.
S. Koreans protest over US beef safety
2-May-2008 Yonhap
Some 10,000 South Koreans gathered in Seoul late Friday to peacefully protest the government’s decision to resume US beef imports, despite outcry over the safety of the product once banned over concersn of mad cow disease.
US-Korea beef protocol (2008)
1-May-2008
USTR fact sheet on opening South Korea to US beef
19-Apr-2008 USTR
The United States and Korea concluded an agreement on April 18, 2008 to fully reopen South Korea’s market to all US beef and beef products irrespective of whether or not the FTA is ratified
South Korea relaxes US beef import rules
18-Apr-2008 Washington Post
South Korea on Friday agreed to open up to U.S. beef imports after Washington pledged to raise safety standards, boosting prospects for a sweeping trade deal ahead of a summit between leaders of the allies later in the day.
Food safety on the butcher’s block
18-Apr-2008 FPIP
The United States is using bilateral trade agreements to arm-twist weaker countries into accepting its food safety standards as a tool to expand the market control of US corporations. South Korea is the latest victim.
China, US move forward on new food safety agreement
2-Apr-2008
The US and China have agreed to implement a new bilateral food safety system by initially focusing on four product categories, said FDA officials.
Will US trade policy again trump public health?
27-Mar-2008 Marinij
The Bay Area in California has been in an uproar over the proposed light brown apple moth program, which involves aerial spraying of an untested synthetic pheromone-based pesticide, because of quarantines invoked by Mexico and Canada under NAFTA.
Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) concerns in agricultural trade
3-Mar-2008
As free trade agreements lower agricultural tariffs, more countries may turn to SPS measures to protect their farmers from import competition.
China, ASEAN ink food safety deal
31-Oct-2007 China Daily
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Monday released the Nanning Joint Statement to strengthen collaboration on food safety.
Kenya: EPAs could delay EU bid
28-Aug-2007 AllAfrica.com
Uncertainty is looming in Kenya’s horticultural sector following the move by the five EAC member states to sign one Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), which they say could take much longer time than was previously anticipated.
US-Korean food fight
26-Aug-2007 FPIF
The US government is working to deny South Koreans the right to local food and to undermine their domestic food safety laws through the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
US/Korean trade nonsense has to stop
6-Aug-2007 Cattle Network
Korea should continue to reject the occasional box of beef — the containers of boneless meat that accidentally contain bones or spinal material — and let the rest go through. Their buying public can make the decision about the quality of the product. At the same time, American beef packers should continue to work on their quality control procedures and get it right before the KORUS FTA is finalized.
Trade deficit in food safety
29-Jul-2007 Public Citizen
Public Citizen has published a new report on the connection between trade agreements that limit US food safety policies to facilitate trade and the growing safety threat posed by US food imports
Secret FTA deal could lower meat safety standards
7-Jun-2007
In a secret deal struck just before the two countries signed a free trade agreement (FTA) in early April, the South Korean government promised the US it would offer a "de facto" relinquishment of its authority to conduct hygiene and quarantine tests on US imported beef.
Gov’t documents reveal trade-off on textiles, genetically modified crops
7-Apr-2007 Hankyoreh
The South Korean government pledged to ease quarantine rules on products containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) under a free trade agreement with the United States struck on April 2. But while negotiations were underway on the deal, the government denied it was discussing the topic.
SK reportedly agrees to nix testing US genetically modified crops
3-Apr-2007 Hankyoreh
South Korea has reportedly exempted US foods containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) from safety tests in the Korea-US free trade agreement struck on April 2, a move that Korean environmentalists criticised as the government "selling off" the health of the nation.
S. Korea will not automatically accept OIE ruling on US beef: minister
22-Mar-2007
South Korea is not obliged to automatically accept a planned ruling by a world animal health body that may make it easier for the United States to export beef, a senior policymaker said Wednesday.
S Korea, US at odds over key agriculture issues at FTA talks: official
13-Mar-2007 Yonhap
South Korea and the United States have not been able to close the gap on key issues at the latest free trade agreement (FTA) talks in Seoul, a government official said Tuesday.