Washington, D.C. —
Senator John Thune today called on President Bush to use his upcoming meeting with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak to discuss re-opening South Korean markets to U.S. beef. South Korea closed its market to U.S. beef in 2003, and then briefly reopened it before once again suspending beef trade with the United States due to the detection of an ineligible piece of backbone in a beef shipment from the U.S.
"America's cattle producers are among the hardest working individuals in the country; we need to work just as hard to make certain they can freely market their products both in the United States and abroad," said Thune. "The loss of the South Korean market was a significant setback for American beef producers. The World Organization for Animal Health has classified beef from the U.S. as some of the safest in the world, and there is no reason for these restrictions to remain in place."
Prior to the ban, South Korea was the second largest market for U.S. beef and veal exports, accounting for 24 percent of all U.S. beef exports valued at $183 million per year.
"Failure to reestablish this trade relationship will result in the continued loss of millions of dollars of export income."
The full text of the letter is below.
April 17, 2008
President George W. Bush
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
In anticipation of your upcoming meeting with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, I am writing regarding the importance to America's livestock industry of gaining full, unfettered access to the South Korean market for U.S. beef.
America's livestock producers are some of the hardest working individuals in the country and they deserve trade agreements that work just as hard for them. In 2003, America's beef industry was dealt a substantial setback when South Korea closed its market to U.S. beef. Although trade was briefly resumed for certain cuts of U.S. beef, on October 7, 2007, the South Korean government once again suspended beef trade due to the detection of an ineligible vertebral column in a beef shipment from the United States.
Prior to South Korea's ban on U.S. beef, the United States was the world's largest beef and veal exporter with an 18 percent share of the global export market. As a result of the current South Korean ban, the United States now unfortunately lags behind Australia and Brazil in the ranks of international beef trade. Prior to the ban on United States beef, South Korea was the second largest market for U.S. beef and veal exports, annually receiving 24 percent of all U.S. beef exports valued at $183 million. Regaining access to the South Korean marketplace is a valuable and much-needed export opportunity for America's livestock industry.
The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) has classified the United States as a "controlled risk" country. Controlled risk status recognizes that regulatory controls for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy are in place and successful. Because America's livestock producers raise and export some of the safest beef in the world, the South Korean government must be strongly encouraged to recognize the safety of U.S. beef and rescind onerous restrictions on bone-in beef imports.
Although I am pleased that United States and South Korean representatives have resumed negotiations, I am deeply disappointed that this issue remains yet unresolved. Each day the South Korean government continues its ban on U.S. beef imports, producers lose millions of dollars in unrealized exports. Particularly as our livestock producers struggle with high input costs and over capacity in the processing sector, it is critical that the United States and South Korea come to a timely agreement, which allows for all beef and beef products from cattle of all ages to be traded, consistent with OIE safety standards.
I encourage you to take this opportunity as you meet with President Lee Myung-bak, to encourage South Korea's broad acceptance of U.S. beef.
Thank you for your time and consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
JOHN THUNE
United States Senate
"America's cattle producers are among the hardest working individuals in the country; we need to work just as hard to make certain they can freely market their products both in the United States and abroad," said Thune. "The loss of the South Korean market was a significant setback for American beef producers. The World Organization for Animal Health has classified beef from the U.S. as some of the safest in the world, and there is no reason for these restrictions to remain in place."
Prior to the ban, South Korea was the second largest market for U.S. beef and veal exports, accounting for 24 percent of all U.S. beef exports valued at $183 million per year.
"Failure to reestablish this trade relationship will result in the continued loss of millions of dollars of export income."
The full text of the letter is below.
April 17, 2008
President George W. Bush
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
In anticipation of your upcoming meeting with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, I am writing regarding the importance to America's livestock industry of gaining full, unfettered access to the South Korean market for U.S. beef.
America's livestock producers are some of the hardest working individuals in the country and they deserve trade agreements that work just as hard for them. In 2003, America's beef industry was dealt a substantial setback when South Korea closed its market to U.S. beef. Although trade was briefly resumed for certain cuts of U.S. beef, on October 7, 2007, the South Korean government once again suspended beef trade due to the detection of an ineligible vertebral column in a beef shipment from the United States.
Prior to South Korea's ban on U.S. beef, the United States was the world's largest beef and veal exporter with an 18 percent share of the global export market. As a result of the current South Korean ban, the United States now unfortunately lags behind Australia and Brazil in the ranks of international beef trade. Prior to the ban on United States beef, South Korea was the second largest market for U.S. beef and veal exports, annually receiving 24 percent of all U.S. beef exports valued at $183 million. Regaining access to the South Korean marketplace is a valuable and much-needed export opportunity for America's livestock industry.
The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) has classified the United States as a "controlled risk" country. Controlled risk status recognizes that regulatory controls for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy are in place and successful. Because America's livestock producers raise and export some of the safest beef in the world, the South Korean government must be strongly encouraged to recognize the safety of U.S. beef and rescind onerous restrictions on bone-in beef imports.
Although I am pleased that United States and South Korean representatives have resumed negotiations, I am deeply disappointed that this issue remains yet unresolved. Each day the South Korean government continues its ban on U.S. beef imports, producers lose millions of dollars in unrealized exports. Particularly as our livestock producers struggle with high input costs and over capacity in the processing sector, it is critical that the United States and South Korea come to a timely agreement, which allows for all beef and beef products from cattle of all ages to be traded, consistent with OIE safety standards.
I encourage you to take this opportunity as you meet with President Lee Myung-bak, to encourage South Korea's broad acceptance of U.S. beef.
Thank you for your time and consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
JOHN THUNE
United States Senate