South Korea Lifts U.S. Beef Ban

[OhioChick]

Source: New York Times

Published: April 19, 2008
SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea agreed on Friday to resume beef imports from the United States that were halted in 2003 by concerns over mad cow disease.

The decision removes a key dispute between the two allies, hours before President Bush was to meet South Korea’s new president, Lee Myung-bak, in Washington to discuss free trade and North Korea.

The deal clears an important obstacle to Congressional support for a wider free trade deal that the Bush administration has struck with South Korea.

The agreement to allow American beef imports, which is unpopular among South Korean farmers, shows how eager Mr. Lee is to mend ties with Washington.

He is trying to get the South Korean Parliament to ratify the free trade deal before its term ends in late May, hoping that ratification would give President Bush further leverage to pressure Congress for its approval.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/19/world/asia/19korea.html?ref=world

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Clears way for a "wider free trade deal?"

[IronLionZion]

1. I'll kick your thread.

:kick:

I'm glad they're buying American products.

[OhioChick]

2. Thanks~

Did I recently read somewhere that you're going back to school?

[IronLionZion]

3. yup, I'm done with TCS next month.

:hi:

[OhioChick]

4. Good for You for

Continuing your education. :toast:

One of my kids is in undergraduate school now and it costs a fortune. Can't wait for when grad school starts for him. :sarcasm: The school he wants to go to costs double. :crazy:


On edit to add: If I lived in S. Korea, I wouldn't want US beef, given it's track record.

[flvegan]

5. Aaaand South Korea throws its folks under the bus.

[hack89]

6. How many cases of mad cow since 2003?

I guess the thousands of Americans dead from eating beef should be a warning - right?

[OhioChick]

7. Makes me

Reluctant to eat beef and I live here.

[flvegan]

8. How long does it take for mad cow to show up?

Isn't it like, a decade?

Some folks think that other diseases involving brain deterioration might be misdiagnosed and may well be mad cow.

Then, there's the cancer/heart attack angle.

Almost a gotcha, but not quite.