Korea to Exclude Beef from High-level Korea-US FTA Talks
Lee Hye-min, head of the Korean FTA team, has stated that Korea will exclude the issue of US beef imports from ministerial-level talks, even though both sides will try to make a big deal over the talks. The Washington FTA team pressured the Korean team to negotiate a settlement of the controversy over importing US beef during the last talks in Seoul.
When asked about the question “Do you plan to make a big deal of imports of US beef during the high-level talks?,” Mr. Lee said in the KBS 1 radio show called Radio Information Center, “No. The issue will be dealt with through another special negotiation, not during the high-level talks.”
Regarding the high-level talks, he said, “It will be necessary to deal with the beef imports through ministerial-level talks between the two countries.” A Democratic senator from a cattle state had some blunt words on beef imports to Korea. Korea has rejected entire shipments of US beef when bone chips were found in two or three boxes.
In regards to the process revision of US trade redemption, Lee said, “We do not have any intention to change it because of its significance.” Prior to his KBS 1 radio show, he stated on CBS Radio Station, “The seventh talks will be the same as before, we will deal with each issue by section.” The upcoming seventh FTA talks will be held from Feb. 11 to 14 in the US.
Lee stressed that, basically, the contents of the talks are more important than ending the talks within the scheduled period. "If we are both satisfied with the results of the FTA talks, the talks should be wrapped up within the Trade Promotion Authority deadline.”
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 / 입력시간: 2007. 02.02. 08:27
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