US urges S. Korea to be rational in FTA talks
Yonhap News, Korea
U.S. urges S. Korea to be rational in FTA talks
29 March 2007
WASHINGTON, March 29 (Yonhap) — The U.S. secretary of agriculture urged South Korea to be "rational and predictable" in dealing with trade issues, a stern message that came as the two countries get ready to conclude a free trade agreement (FTA).
"An FTA agreement can be good for both the U.S. and South Korea," Mike Johanns said Thursday in a speech to the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.
"It is an important trade agreement, but it also has to be grounded on rational and predictable approaches to trade issues," he said.
Negotiators were nearing a U.S.-set deadline to strike a deal aimed at eliminating tariff and non-tariff barriers. An announcement is expected as early as Friday.
Autos and agriculture remain some of the key sticking points, and while beef is not an FTA issue, it has become a major stumbling block.
Late last year, South Korea lifted a three-year ban on U.S. beef imports, which was imposed following the discovery of a case of mad cow disease at an American cattle farm, but only agreed to accept boneless products due to concerns over possible health hazards from the disease.
But three subsequent shipments were turned away when inspectors found bone chips in them. Washington has accused Seoul of enforcing unreasonably strict guidelines.
U.S. President George W. Bush, speaking to the same group on Wednesday, said it was his administration’s objective to make sure that countries like South Korea fully open their beef markets to American products.
Opening up beef markets "is an important part of our foreign policy," he said.
U.S. officials are awaiting a ruling in May by the International Animal Health Organization, or OIE, on the safety of U.S. beef.
"At that point we will ask our trading partners to accept OIE’s import requirements and start accepting the full range of our fresh meat and meat products from animals of all ages," Johanns said.
"I feel strongly that we need to move to a recognition that common sense has to be a part of what we are doing," the secretary said.
"A clear commitment by the South Koreans to abide by OIE classifications will go a long way toward winning support for an FTA in the Senate."
Johanns added that some countries apply politics to trade standards.
"You should be able to rely upon trade based upon scientific principles," he said.
