South Korean President Lee Myung-bak said yesterday that the country would not accept imports of US beef from cattle more than 30 months old as he negotiates his biggest test yet since taking office 100 days ago.
After protests that have brought thousands of people onto the streets over fears of mad cow disease, the government imposed the limit as a condition for resuming beef imports, which have been intermittently banned for years.
The move risks a standoff with Washington, but may ease public anger which has seen Lee’s popularity ratings tumble by half since he took power.
“It is natural for the government not to import US beef from cattle older than 30 months, if the people are concerned and the majority of the people do not want it,” Lee was quoted as saying by a spokesman.
“The people’s trust in the government has weakened seriously because of this issue,” he told a meeting of Cabinet ministers.
Minister of Agriculture Chung Woon-chun said Seoul would suspend its plans to restart imports until Washington complies with its request not to export beef from older cattle.
“We won’t announce new quarantine conditions until the United States gives an answer to this request,” Chung said on TV.
South Korea lifted its intermittent ban on US beef imports last week. It had imported some US$850 million in US beef a year before the ban was imposed for the first time. An initial accord struck in April called for Seoul to buy almost all beef cuts, including those from cattle more than 30 months old. Older animals are deemed more likely to be a mad cow disease risk.
However, after weeks escalating demonstrations that have led to hundreds of arrests and scores of injured in clashes with police, the government announced late on Monday that it was delaying its resumption of imports.
“It was a measure to humbly accept the people’s will,” Chung said.
Nevertheless, US Ambassador Alexander Vershbow, who met South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan, ruled out renegotiating the April deal.
“We don’t see any need for renegotiation of the agreement since it is based on science,” he was quoted as saying by Yonhap news agency.
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