Source:  Chris Scott, MEATINGPLACE.COM. 4/1/11

U.S. Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) is calling for renewed efforts to remove unscientific trade barriers affecting U.S. beef reports to Korea and other Asian nations in light of a new report from the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).

The USTR report notes that the United States and Korea signed an agreement to fully open the Koran market to U.S. beef and beef products in April 2008, although imports of beef from cattle younger than 30 months old are still being curtailed.

The report says the U.S. government will continue to urge Korea to open its market to all U.S. beef and beef products under current international standards. The USTR also identifies  several other trading partners that impost barriers on U.S. beef imports, including China, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Sen. Baucus is now calling for officials from both governments to begin negotiating a pathway to establish a new Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Korea and other nations that use what he describes as “unscientific beef restrictions” that affect U.S. export growth and U.S. ranchers and farmers.

The Senate Finance Committee chairman has a long history advocating the negotiation of an FTA between the United States and Korea.

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