U.S., South Korea Talks Break Down
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SEOUL — Talks on U.S. demands for the lifting of South Korean restrictions on beef imports broke down only hours after officials of the two countries met Thursday, the Seoul agriculture ministry said.
“The two-day talks were cut short on the opening day after the two sides confirmed wide differences,” a ministry official told reporters.
A ministry statement said South Korea rejected a U.S. demand that Seoul comply with a ruling by the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and produce a timetable by early February for lifting import barriers on beef.
The official quoted chief South Korean delegate Shin Koo-bom, a ministry director-general, as telling U.S. delegates that his country had to maintain the present quota system because a weak domestic cattle industry would be unable to withstand uncontrolled beef imports.
Asst. Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Nancy Adams, who headed a six-person team, declined to discuss Shin’s offer to increase South Korea’s quota for U.S. beef exports.
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