P. M. BRIEFING : S. Korea Rejects U.S. Demand for Liberalized Beef Imports
SEOUL — U.S. Trade Representative Carla Anderson Hills got an early rebuff today when South Korea’s agriculture minister rejected her demand that Seoul liberalize beef imports.
As trade talks began, Kim Sik refused even to consider a full opening of South Korea’s beef market for fear of its effect on domestic prices, Agriculture Ministry officials said.
Hills, starting three days of bilateral trade talks, threatened to retaliate in mid-November with duties on South Korean goods if the beef dispute is not resolved.
Washington is pressing Seoul to take a wide range of steps to reduce its huge trade surplus with the United States, which is trying to cut its massive trade deficit.
Though disputes simmer in other areas, beef remains the most volatile trade issue between the two nations.
In a separate meeting with Trade Minister Han Seung Soo, Hills demanded that Seoul crack down on illegal copying of textbooks and records as well as infringement of semiconductor patents.
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