SKorean cattle breeders rally against US

SEOUL – Thousands of South Korean farmers rallied yesterday against US beef imports and urged the government to scrap a sweeping free trade pact with the United States.

Police said about 7 000 people from the Korea Beef Association braved heavy rain to take part in the rally near the National Assembly. No violence or arrests were reported.Shouting “Stop US beef imports”, they denounced the government for trying to remove a potential irritant in trade relations by allowing unlimited imports of US beef.US beef imports have been suspended several times since South Korea last year relaxed a three-year total ban imposed to keep out mad cow disease.At present, it is willing to accept only boneless meat.The beef issue is a sensitive one in trade relations with Washington.South Korea was once the third largest market for US beef, with imports worth US$850 million a year before 2003.During the rally one activist smashed an ice cow with a hammer.The free trade deal signed by the two countries on June 30 must be ratified by both the US Congress and South Korea’s National Assembly.South Korea sent the pact to parliament for approval on September 7.But opposition among US legislators could intensify unless the beef market reopens fully.Farmers and activists staged occasionally violent protests against the pact during the 10 months it was being negotiated but most opinion polls show a majority of South Koreans favour it.The pact would eliminate nearly 95 per cent of tariffs on trade in consumer and industrial goods within three years.Nampa-AFPNo violence or arrests were reported.Shouting “Stop US beef imports”, they denounced the government for trying to remove a potential irritant in trade relations by allowing unlimited imports of US beef.US beef imports have been suspended several times since South Korea last year relaxed a three-year total ban imposed to keep out mad cow disease.At present, it is willing to accept only boneless meat.The beef issue is a sensitive one in trade relations with Washington.South Korea was once the third largest market for US beef, with imports worth US$850 million a year before 2003.During the rally one activist smashed an ice cow with a hammer.The free trade deal signed by the two countries on June 30 must be ratified by both the US Congress and South Korea’s National Assembly.South Korea sent the pact to parliament for approval on September 7.But opposition among US legislators could intensify unless the beef market reopens fully.Farmers and activists staged occasionally violent protests against the pact during the 10 months it was being negotiated but most opinion polls show a majority of South Koreans favour it.The pact would eliminate nearly 95 per cent of tariffs on trade in consumer and industrial goods within three years.Nampa-AFP