Daniel Sherwood’s Weblog

6/11/08 from “More talks planned over S. Korean beef crisis” (cnn.com)

       In April of this year Trade officials from the US and South Korea met to negotiate resuming beef imports from the US. Since 2003, over concerns of mad cow disease, US beef has been banned for sale in South Korea. The recent trade deal was scheduled for completion earlier this month; however, the final aspects of the agreement were halted after protests broke out in Seoul. Thousands of protesters filled the streets of the South Korean capital last week. Concerns that the US imported beef may potentially be infected with mad cow disease has lead to heated, and occasionally violent, protest demonstrations. Organizers of the protests called for Korean citizens to oppose the trade agreements, stating that the deal could lead to infected meat being imported into the country. Protests have been staged day and night and have caused for many top government officials to offer letters of resignation to the Korean president. Often, in times of increased public discontent, top officials will offer to resign in order to avoid being tied to negative political issues. The newly appointed president, Lee Myung-bak, has taken heavy criticism over the ordeal and is not faring well with his new public. The president’s current strategy for saving the trade agreement is to demand that only beef from cattle younger than thirty months old be imported into the country. This concept is based off of FDA studies that suggest that younger cattle have a lower risk of infection.                    

       The question that arises in my mind is why are we trying to export beef to Korea and at the same time trying to import beef from South America? I understand that there is a cost difference, i.e. we sell the US beef at higher prices and buy the South American beef at lower prices, but wouldn’t it be easier if we didn’t have to ship it to the other side of the globe? Another question I have is why are Americans eating beef that Koreans won’t even touch? This is a perfect example why people should be seriously thinking about eating locally grown organic goods.