US-South Korean beef talks fail to reach agreement
Xinhua | 2008-06-16
U.S.-South Korean beef talks fail to reach agreement
WASHINGTON, June 15 (Xinhua) — Talks between the United States and South Korea over the resumption of American beef imports ended Sunday without any agreement, U.S. Trade Representative spokeswoman Gretchen Hamel said here.
Representatives of the two countries held "frank and candid discussions" Friday and Saturday; but,"in order to find a mutually acceptable solution, both sides need more time to look into technical issues," Hamel said.
South Korean Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon was returning home, the spokeswoman said, adding officials from both countries will keep in touch.
South Korea lifted its intermittent ban on American beef imports early this month as it struggles to ratify a sweeping free trade agreement with Washington.
Following large-scale protests against the import of U.S. beef in recent weeks, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak suggested that his country postpone the restart of U.S. beef import.
The United States called on Seoul to fully open its market to U.S. beef, while South Korean officials said they were concerned about the product safety after receiving shipments containing banned material.
