Des Moines meat processor calls rejection of beef unfair
US - A Des Moines meat processor accused the South Koreans of acting unfairly in blocking a shipment of beef from the company.
11 December 2006
1 minute read
Iowa Pacific Processors Inc. has found itself caught in a dispute between the United States and South Korean governments over trade. South Korea was once the third-largest market for U.S. beef.
South Korean government officials reported finding bone fragments in the beef, but the material was actually connective tissue that was not prohibited by South Korea's import rules, said Michael Everett, president of Iowa Pacific.
"This is a pretty direct sign that the Korean government, even though they opened their market to U.S. beef, has pretty much made their mind up that they really aren't going to be a fair trading partner," Everett said Thursday.
The 22,500 pounds of beef were X-rayed for bone fragments before the product was shipped and again when they reached South Korea, he said.
Source: Des Moines Register
