South Korea To Resume U.S. Beef Imports In July

Seoul, South Korea (AHN) - South Korea's importation of U.S. beef is expected to resume in July after Seoul announces details of the beef trade agreement with Washington Thursday in the state gazette.

The notice is the last step to making official the controversial deal and makes it effective. The agreement was to be implemented in May but was postponed because of massive public protests by the South Korean public who fear getting infected with mad cow disease from meat of old U.S. cattle.

The deal outlines new and stricter rules for inspecting imported U.S. beef to ensure that the meat is free from mad cow disease.

A local trade expert said the conditions and other details for the beef importation under the agreement should be revealed to the public and discussed first before Seoul makes a formal announcement, according to the Hankyoreh. But Hong Joon-pyo, the floor leader of the ruling Grand National Party, said the notice must be made this week to avoid ruining trade relations with the U.S.