Moran Welcomes Full Reopening of Korean Market to U.S. Beef

Press Release

Congressman Jerry Moran today welcomed news that South Korea is fully reopening its market to U.S. beef from cattle of all ages. Earlier this week, Moran asked President Bush to make restoring beef trade with South Korea his highest economic priority with South Korea. President Bush is scheduled to meet with new South Korean President Lee Myung-bak this weekend.

"After many years of an unnecessary embargo, this is welcome news for our cattle producers, beef processors and rural communities," Moran said. "With input costs so high, now is the time we need every possible market for Kansas cattlemen. We must now focus on countries like Japan and China that remain closed based on unscientific restrictions and encourage officials to follow South Korea's lead in fully reopening its markets based on international standards."

The agreement with South Korea is based on international standards and World Animal Health Organization guidelines. Trade of all U.S. beef and beef products from cattle of all ages is scheduled to resume in mid-May with appropriate Specified Risk Materials removed.

Korea was one of largest importers of U.S. beef prior to the closing of its border in December 2003 when a single case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) was discovered in a Canadian-born dairy cow. Since that time, the U.S. Department of Agriculture aggressively implemented additional safety checks in the beef system to further guarantee the safety of American beef. U.S. standards have and continue to exceed international beef safety standards.

Moran is a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee.

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