ID :
69816
Fri, 07/10/2009 - 21:32
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/69816
The shortlink copeid
(2nd LD) Canada calls for setup of WTO panel on S. Korea's beef ban
(ATTN: UPDATES with more details in para 4-7)
By Lee Joon-seung
SEOUL, July 10 (Yonhap) -- Canada has called on the World Trade Organization
(WTO) to set up a dispute settlement panel to deal with South Korea's ban on its
beef, the government here said Friday.
Seoul has banned Canadian beef imports since May 2003 after the country reported
its first case of mad cow disease, the brain wasting illness suspected of causing
the fatal variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans.
The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said Ottawa formally
requested the establishment of the panel on Thursday. The panel would be able to
take action that can compel a country to change its policies or authorize
punitive measures in the case of non-compliance.
"Seoul objects to taking the matter to a settlement panel and plans to make known
its stance at the Dispute Settlement Board that will convene on July 20 to review
the request," said a ministry official.
He stressed that South Korea maintains trade policies in import rules that are in
accordance with international guidelines and standards.
Seoul's objections could hold up any decision to set up the trade panel this
month, although under WTO rules the next board meeting planned for Aug. 31 can
automatically take steps to acknowledge Canada's request.
South Korea and Canada have been engaged in bilateral talks for several years to
resolve the beef issue but have made little headway. Even if the panel is
established, the process leading up to a definitive ruling can take up to two
years.
Ottawa, which received a "controlled risk" classification from the Paris-based
World Organization for Animal Health, has been pushing Seoul to open the South
Korean market to its beef without restrictions.
South Korea countered that because Canada has reported 16 cases of mad cow
disease so far, it could open its market but that there is a need to limit
imports to protect public health.
Before the ban went into effect, Canada was the fourth-largest supplier of beef
to South Korea after the United States, Australia and New Zealand. It shipped
16,400 tons of beef to South Korea worth US$37.4 million.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)
By Lee Joon-seung
SEOUL, July 10 (Yonhap) -- Canada has called on the World Trade Organization
(WTO) to set up a dispute settlement panel to deal with South Korea's ban on its
beef, the government here said Friday.
Seoul has banned Canadian beef imports since May 2003 after the country reported
its first case of mad cow disease, the brain wasting illness suspected of causing
the fatal variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans.
The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said Ottawa formally
requested the establishment of the panel on Thursday. The panel would be able to
take action that can compel a country to change its policies or authorize
punitive measures in the case of non-compliance.
"Seoul objects to taking the matter to a settlement panel and plans to make known
its stance at the Dispute Settlement Board that will convene on July 20 to review
the request," said a ministry official.
He stressed that South Korea maintains trade policies in import rules that are in
accordance with international guidelines and standards.
Seoul's objections could hold up any decision to set up the trade panel this
month, although under WTO rules the next board meeting planned for Aug. 31 can
automatically take steps to acknowledge Canada's request.
South Korea and Canada have been engaged in bilateral talks for several years to
resolve the beef issue but have made little headway. Even if the panel is
established, the process leading up to a definitive ruling can take up to two
years.
Ottawa, which received a "controlled risk" classification from the Paris-based
World Organization for Animal Health, has been pushing Seoul to open the South
Korean market to its beef without restrictions.
South Korea countered that because Canada has reported 16 cases of mad cow
disease so far, it could open its market but that there is a need to limit
imports to protect public health.
Before the ban went into effect, Canada was the fourth-largest supplier of beef
to South Korea after the United States, Australia and New Zealand. It shipped
16,400 tons of beef to South Korea worth US$37.4 million.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)
