ID :
64926
Tue, 06/09/2009 - 14:16
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https://oananews.org//node/64926
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. Korea, Canadian trade officials to discuss beef ban this week
SBy Lee Joon-seung
SEOUL, June 9 (Yonhap) -- South Korean and Canadian trade officials are expected
to meet this week to discuss Seoul's current ban on beef imports from the North
American country, government sources said Tuesday.
Canada's International Trade Vice-Minister, Louis Levesque will arrive Friday and
meet with Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon and policymakers from the farm ministry,
sources at the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said.
"No details on what issues are to be discussed have been released, but the vice
minister's visit is related to the Canadian beef import ban that has been in
place since May 2003," a farm ministry official said. He added that Ottawa may
want to ask Seoul about what it planned to do with the temporary ban implemented
in late April that blocks the import of live pigs from all North American
countries.
The beef ban is to alleviate consumer fears that Canada with 16 confirmed cases
of mad cow disease may be unsafe to eat. Mad cow disease is suspected of bringing
about the fatal variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans.
Halting imports of live pigs used for breeding purposes, is in response to the
type-A H1N1 influenza that has spread to 73 countries worldwide, infecting over
25,000 people and killing 139 so far.
He said that since the waiting period outlined by the World Trade Organization
ended as of Monday, Canada can take South Korea to the WTO's dispute settlement
panel that can compel Seoul to open its market or face retaliatory measures by
Ottawa.
Canada filed its complaint in early April, with both sides having engaged in
bilateral talks in following weeks to overcome differences.
Others in the agriculture ministry said that it is too early to tell what
measures Canada may take on the beef import ban, especially since the WTO's
dispute settlement panel can take up to two years to make a definitive ruling.
This, they said, translates into no sales for several years.
Canada received a "controlled risk" from the Paris-based World Organization for
Animal Health, that technically allow it to export most beef cuts without
restrictions if certain risk materials are removed.
The North American country has been asking South Korea to provide a clear cut
date on when it would open its beef market although Seoul has countered that
certain restrictions should be enforced on the age of cattle that can provide
meat.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, June 9 (Yonhap) -- South Korean and Canadian trade officials are expected
to meet this week to discuss Seoul's current ban on beef imports from the North
American country, government sources said Tuesday.
Canada's International Trade Vice-Minister, Louis Levesque will arrive Friday and
meet with Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon and policymakers from the farm ministry,
sources at the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said.
"No details on what issues are to be discussed have been released, but the vice
minister's visit is related to the Canadian beef import ban that has been in
place since May 2003," a farm ministry official said. He added that Ottawa may
want to ask Seoul about what it planned to do with the temporary ban implemented
in late April that blocks the import of live pigs from all North American
countries.
The beef ban is to alleviate consumer fears that Canada with 16 confirmed cases
of mad cow disease may be unsafe to eat. Mad cow disease is suspected of bringing
about the fatal variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans.
Halting imports of live pigs used for breeding purposes, is in response to the
type-A H1N1 influenza that has spread to 73 countries worldwide, infecting over
25,000 people and killing 139 so far.
He said that since the waiting period outlined by the World Trade Organization
ended as of Monday, Canada can take South Korea to the WTO's dispute settlement
panel that can compel Seoul to open its market or face retaliatory measures by
Ottawa.
Canada filed its complaint in early April, with both sides having engaged in
bilateral talks in following weeks to overcome differences.
Others in the agriculture ministry said that it is too early to tell what
measures Canada may take on the beef import ban, especially since the WTO's
dispute settlement panel can take up to two years to make a definitive ruling.
This, they said, translates into no sales for several years.
Canada received a "controlled risk" from the Paris-based World Organization for
Animal Health, that technically allow it to export most beef cuts without
restrictions if certain risk materials are removed.
The North American country has been asking South Korea to provide a clear cut
date on when it would open its beef market although Seoul has countered that
certain restrictions should be enforced on the age of cattle that can provide
meat.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)
