According to reports out of South Korea, U.S. beef shipments will begin on June 7 and arrive in South Korea by mid-June. Japan is still up in the air on specific resumption dates.
The South Korea government will publish a list of beef plants approved for export. Several weeks ago Korean officials were in the United States inspecting U.S. plants.
The agreement allows only boneless beef from cattle under 30 months of age. Prior to the first case of BSE, a majority of South Korea beef trade consisted of bone-in beef, specifically beef short ribs. Negotiators continue to press South Korea on expanding its list of approved items.
Japan officials report they'll hold two weeks of public hearings before deciding whether to resume beef trade. They plan to hold a total of 10 meetings starting today (June 1).
Last week thirty-one United States senators sent a letter to the Prime Minister of Japan and the Ambassador of Korea urging them to resume trade in U.S. beef. The letter urged Japan to resume trade prior to the Prime Minister Koizumi's visit in June.
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