South Korea still has outstanding concerns about the latest case of mad-cow disease found in the U.S. and that may be delaying the process to resume beef trade, U.S. industry and government officials said Monday.
South Korea is concerned about the age of an Alabama cow confirmed last week to have contracted mad-cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy, U.S. Department of Agriculture and beef industry representatives said.
If the animal was young enough to have been born after U.S. cattle feed safety rules were in place, that could cast doubt on the effectiveness of a key U.S. safeguard against the disease.
USDA Secretary Mike Johanns acknowledged Monday that there may be some delay in resuming U.S. beef exports to South Korea - once a major importer of U.S. beef - but stressed that trade would resume.
"It appears to me that we're doing fine with South Korea," Johanns said.
So yet more delays in opening this market up. Japan is still dragging it's feet on the issue too. Protectionist trade issues or legitimate concerns? I guess it really depends on which side of the divide you stand on.
People have no concern over things that do not affect themselves. Chinese proverb
