S. Korea Agrees To Resume U.S. Beef Imports

SEOUL, April 18 -- South Korea agreed to resume U.S. beef imports that had been halted over fears of mad cow disease, clearing a key hurdle to a broader trade deal with Washington just hours before the countries' leaders were to meet Friday.

South Korea suspended the imports in 2003 after mad cow disease was discovered in the United States, cutting off what was then the third-largest market for U.S. beef.

Restricted imports resumed last April, but they have been on hold since October, when a shipment was found to contain animal parts banned because of mad cow concerns.

The beef issue has been a major irritant in relations between the allies and threatened the prospects for approving a wider trade agreement, one of the main items on the agenda of a summit meeting that started Friday in Washington between South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and President Bush.

Although the beef issue is not directly related to the trade pact, some U.S. lawmakers had insisted that it needed to be resolved before they could back the deal. Lawmakers in both countries have yet to approve the pact, which was negotiated last year.

South Korea's Agriculture Ministry said Friday that revived imports were expected to begin in mid-May and to expand in stages.

Seoul will first allow the importation of U.S. beef from cattle younger than 30 months, including those cuts with bones. Younger cows are believed to be at less risk for mad cow disease.

Beef from older cattle will also be cleared for importation after the United States strengthens its controls on feed to reduce the chances of infection, the ministry said.

Min Dong-seok, South Korea's chief negotiator, said the United States had agreed to press for the feed measures, adding that resolving the beef issue would help strengthen ties between the two countries. "The beef issue has been a factor that caused distrust between South Korea and the U.S.," Min told reporters.

Seoul agreed not to immediately halt imports even if a new case of mad cow disease were discovered in the United States, Min said. Instead, Seoul would halt imports only if the Paris-based World Organization for Animal Health downgraded its safety rating for U.S. cattle.

That organization determined last year that the United States was a "controlled risk nation," a category that allows beef to be exported regardless of an animal's age. This added pressure on Seoul to lift its import ban.

South Korean farmers have vigorously opposed the free-trade deal with the United States, fearing that cheaper imports will threaten their livelihoods. About 30 farmers and activists protested outside the Agriculture Ministry, shouting, "Mad cow, mad government! Our people are getting mad," as several hundred riot police officers stood watch.