WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 5, 1999) -- The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) opposes new guidelines issued by the Korean government that expand Korea’s discriminatory, anti-consumer system for the import and distribution of beef.
The guidelines, released October 1, increase Korean government control over beef imports through the LPMO and government-affiliated super groups, continue restrictions on retail distribution and pricing of beef, and reinforce and expand restrictions on market-driven trading among non-government-affiliated super groups.
"U.S. beef producers oppose the anti-import and anti-consumer orientation of Korea's new guidelines and related rules on the handling of imported beef,” said NCBA President George Swan, a cattle producer from Rogerson, Idaho.
“These rules guarantee Korean government intrusion into the market that will crowd out competition and leave Korean consumers with fewer choices and higher food prices,” Swan said. “If I were a Korean consumer, I would question why my government wants to place further restrictions on the import and distribution of beef, which ultimately will lead to higher consumer prices."
Swan added, “The guidelines issued this week and the other relevant rules that remain in force also are clearly designed to discriminate against, and limit growth opportunities for, imported beef products, including products from the United States. We intend to see to it that Korea fully liberalizes its beef market on schedule -- by January 1, 2001 -- and are working closely with the U.S. government through the WTO dispute settlement process to ensure that this market is open to competition that will benefit Korean consumers.”
Korean government rules on the import and distribution of foreign beef run afoul of the commitments Korea has made as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO). In short, the Korea government is tightening its controls over the import and distribution of beef, contrary to its WTO commitment to fully liberalize its beef market by January 1, 2001.
-- NCBA --