US must learn some humility
The U.S. government is accused of having double standards in its policies with Korea ― it is trying to further open the local beef market while delaying ratification of the free trade agreement (KORUS-FTA) the two signed.
The Senate passed a resolution this week, which urges Korea and six other nations to provide full market access to American beef ― Korea imports U.S. beef products from cattle less than 30 months of age due to concerns about mad cow disease.
The other six are China, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Mexico and Vietnam. Sponsored by Democratic Sen. Max Baucus, who heads the senate finance committee, the resolution was unanimously approved.
"I strongly urge all countries to follow international guidelines, which have certified U.S. beef as safe, and open their markets to American ranchers and farmers immediately," Baucus said.
But his rationale is seemingly not in line with the sentiments of many Koreans, who are still suspicious on the safety of U.S. beef because of three alleged mad cow disease reports in the mid 2000s.
In response, the government here banned imports of beef products in 2003 but the Lee Myung-bak administration partially resumed them in late 2008 in spite of protests and massive street rallies.
Back then, Lee's move was seen as a strategy to garner ratification of the KORUS-FTA. Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has reiterated that the two are separate issues but citizens are not buying the explanation.
The U.S. government has yet to ask the Senate and the House of Representatives to endorse the bilateral agreement while the unicameral parliament of Korea is ready to give a nod to it at any time.
"Here are two different perspectives. The U.S. thinks that the remaining restrictions on the exports of its beef to Korea are an obstacle in finalizing the FTA together with the imbalances in the auto trade," a Seoul analyst said.
"By contrast, Korea complains that the U.S. is reluctant to give the green light to the FTA despite its efforts to import American beef regardless of fears of mad cow disease. Plus, an increasing amount of U.S. beef enters the country. Under such circumstances, U.S. policies may be regarded as double standards."
U.S. beef exports to Korea reached $216 million last year, making the country the No. 4 importer of such products. The imports reached 19,230 tons during the first three months of this year, up 56.5 percent from a year ago.
The KORUS-FTA is expected to increase annual U.S. output by more than $10 billion while generating about 200,000 jobs. Yet, carmakers are reluctant to see the agreement ratified.
The Korean government hopes that ratification will take place after the U.S. mid-term elections in November.
