S. Korea doesn't see changing U.S. beef age restrictions
“It is our government’s firm position that there is no room for further discussions on it,” said Kim Jong Hoon in an interview with KBS radio in Seoul, reports Bloomberg. He said he hoped the trade accord would take effect on Jan. 1, 2012.
Meat associations and industry leaders had called for the agreement to be passed without further negotiations on U.S. beef, and several organizations have already called for a quick passage of the agreement. They maintain the FTA will increase the amount of U.S. meat products exported to Korea, and they argue that a quick ratification would give U.S. producers an advantage over other countries that are also working on trade agreements with Korea, such as Australia.