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South Korea Lifts Meat Plant Suspensions

South Korea has lifted the suspension of six U.S. meat plants, Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced Monday.

"We are pleased that Korea will allow the resumption of shipments from these plants," says Johanns. "USDA has taken action to ensure compliance with Korean import requirements here in the United States and Korea recognized these efforts. Despite some start-up problems, beef exports to Korea are rapidly increasing."

U.S. exporters have sold more than 500 tons of U.S. beef to Korea this year, USDA says.

Johanns also announced that a U.S. delegation is in Japan to begin technical discussions, the next step in the process to more fully open the Japanese market to U.S. beef and beef products.