US, South Korea begin talks on beef imports
(AFP)
Updated: 2006-01-09 13:58

The United States and South Korea began talks in Seoul on Washington's demand for an end to Seoul's two-year ban on US beef imports, the agriculture ministry said.

US beef imports have been blocked since December 2003 when an outbreak of mad cow disease was confirmed in the United States.

Seoul recently hinted that it was ready to respond to repeated requests from Washington to resume US beef imports.

The two-day talks in Seoul will focus on concrete terms and conditons for resuming US beef imports, with both sides yet to verify and narrow their differences, the ministry said.

"Talks began as scheduled today. They will continue until Tuesday. A breifing on the outcomes of the talks is due on Wednesday," ministry spokesman Kim Song said.

Both sides remain wide apart over which specific beef items to be first allowed in amid lingering health and safety concerns about US beef, he said.

Seoul wants to exclude ribs, which previously accounted for most of the US beef marketed in South Korea, from the list of import items, while Washington insists on including them, according to Yonhap news agency.

Seoul also wants to restrict imports to beef from cattle under the age of 20 months while the US demands the age be raised to 30 months, Yonhap said.

Japan decided last month to resume imports of some US beef and the United States urged other Asian countries to follow suit.

US government data showed South Korea bought 200,000 tonnes of US beef between January and November in 2003, making it then the third-largest US beef importer after Japan and Mexico.