Korea getting closer to restoring access to Canadian beef

Canadian officials announced a breakthrough in restoring access to the South Korean beef market. Canada and South Korea are working to finalize a science based agreement to export Canadian beef, under 30 months of age, back into South Korea - the last key Asian market still imposing a trade ban on Canadian beef.

Canada and South Korea have resolved technical issues and will continue to collaborate until the commercially viable agreement is fully implemented.

South Korea will begin its domestic process of submitting the proposed import health requirements, which includes public consultations and legislative approval, on June 28. Canadian and South Korean officials will continue to work closely to ensure the remaining elements of the process are completed.

The Canadian Beef Export Federation estimates that this agreement could mean more than $30 million for Canadian producers by 2015. In 2002, South Korea was Canada's fourth biggest beef market and remains a key market for the Canadian agriculture sector.

After Canada's numerous attempts to negotiate access to South Korea for Canadian beef, Canada requested the establishment of a World Trade Organization (WTO) panel in August 2009 but continued to negotiate a possible bilateral settlement that would provide commercially viable access to South Korea.

With the proposed, commercially viable technical agreement achieved with South Korea, Canada will formally request a suspension of the ongoing WTO Panel proceedings once South Korea submits the import health requirements for public consultation on June 28, 2011, with remaining steps to take place in the coming months.