Source:  Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 9/24/10


Canada and South Korea meet next week discuss the latter's ban on imports of Canadian beef, while the United States aims to finalize a free-trade deal with Seoul by November, according to reports by Korea’s Yonhap News.

Canada’s talks will be held in Ottawa on Monday and Tuesday, the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is quoted as saying.

South Korea blacklisted Canadian beef in May 2003 following the detection of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in a Canadian cow.  

The two sides have held two rounds of negotiations, in 2007 and again last year, but were unable to make progress. Canada has taken its case to the World Trade Organization, but the countries agreed to continue a dialogue.

U.S. relations
Meanwhile, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk said Wednesday at the 2010 Global Services Summit in Washington that the administration aims to resolve sticking points in a free-trade deal with South Korea by November, Yonhap reported, citing a transcript of his comments.

President Obama in June told Kirk to finish discussions with South Korean officials over automobiles and beef before the president attends the G-20 economic summit in Seoul.

The KORUS FTA doesn’t cover beef, but U.S. lawmakers have threatened to block the deal if Korea doesn’t lift restrictions on imports of U.S. beef.

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