Free Trade and Beef on Summit Agenda

SOUTH KOREA - The status of the US beef trade with South Korea was expected to be one of the issues discussed between US President George. W Bush and the South Korean President Lee Myung-bak during their summit meeting in Seoul today (Wednesday).
calendar icon 6 August 2008
clock icon 2 minute read


President Lee greets President Bush in Seoul.

The beef issue was expected to be part of the discussions over a free trade agreement between the two countries.

South Korea's decision to lift a five-year ban on US beef sparked a political backlash in the country.

In their August 6 meeting, the two leaders had in depth discussions on the development of the ROK-US Alliance, the approval of the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement, the North Korean nuclear issue and other North Korea-related issues, and ways to expand cooperation on important bilateral, regional and global issues.

The two Presidents affirmed that the Alliance between the Republic of Korea and the United States has contributed to peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia for over fifty years.

The two Presidents reaffirmed that the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) will boost trade, increase economic growth and create jobs in both the United States and Korea, while also adding an enduring economic pillar to our two countries' bilateral partnership.

Toward that end, the two Presidents committed themselves to working with their respective legislatures to approve the KORUS FTA as soon as possible.

On Mr Bush's arrival thousands of anti-Bush protesters gathered in Seoul ahead and police used water cannons to prevent the demonstrators from marching thought the capital.

Mr Bush missed the protests, arriving at a military airport south of the capital and then being driven to a hotel after a welcoming ceremony including a 21-gun salute.

TheCattleSite News Desk

© 2000 - 2024 - Global Ag Media. All Rights Reserved | No part of this site may be reproduced without permission.