South Korea will permit the first shipment of U.S. beef into the country for sale since December 2003, sources at a South Korean beef importer said on Friday, easing tensions in a simmering trade dispute."The beef has been cleared for sale," one source said. The agriculture ministry declined to comment.
South Korea, once the third-largest market for U.S. beef exports, has come under strong pressure to resume imports. Powerful U.S. lawmakers say rejection could prevent passage of a sweeping bilateral free-trade pact struck earlier this month.
South Korea agreed to resume imports last year, but rejected all 22 tons of beef sent over in three shipments due to small bone chips. Seoul had barred imports after an outbreak of mad cow disease in the United States in December 2003.
Read More
