ISDS Case Map
US
Agriculture Minister Chung Woon-chun said that until the two nations reach an agreement on the age limit of cattle when they are slaughtered for meat to be exported to South Korea, Seoul will not implement its revised sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards. The move effectively allows South Korea to keep its import ban on US beef that has been in place since early October.
Leading U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama, who is close to securing the democratic nomination for president, came out criticizing the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement.
Social organisations and popular movements of South America demand a genuine role in the decisions made regarding how UNASUR is designed and rolled out.
As the government of South Korea notified the public that it will implement new import rules for US beef imports on May 29, civic organizations, labor groups and Internet users are strongly denouncing the move. They plan to take steps to block distribution and consumption of the American meat, while warning of a “nationwide, anti-government fight".
South Korea's political opposition asked the Constitutional Court on Friday to block U.S. beef from entering the country after the government announced it would resume imports within days under an accord with Washington.
South Korea lifted its ban on US beef imports Thursday despite growing protests over fears of mad cow disease as it struggles to ratify a sweeping free trade deal with the world's biggest economy.
South Korea's labour unions on Wednesday vowed to block the planned release of US beef from cold storage this week, as protests sparked by mad cow fears intensified.
The prospect of Seoul gaining early ratification of a free trade deal with Washington was dimming Tuesday, as opposition parties continued to boycott the last session of the outgoing parliament amid an uproar over scheduled US beef imports.
Malaysia's International trade minister Monday said his country would not compromise on its sensitive agricultural sector in the next round of free trade negotiations with the United States.
A handful of local residents will wrap up a three-day fast tomorrow to draw attention to the global food crisis, saying Americans need to re-evaluate the food policies supported by their government and international financial organizations. They say free-trade agreements and related policies have decimated local farming in the United States and around the world and have contributed to the current food shortage.
