S. Korea to respond to Canada`s petition over beef at WTO

SEOUL, April 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will respond to Canada's petition to the
World Trade Organization (WTO) to settle a bilateral dispute over beef imports,
officials here said Saturday
Canada is calling on the Geneva-based WTO to address a more than five-year old
South Korean ban on its beef, set it place due to fears of mad cow disease,
hoping that both sides can resolve differences through consultations.
Under WTO rules on dispute settlements, a consultation is the first step in
working out a trade dispute, with talks to begin within 30 days of the request
being filed.
If no agreement is reached within 60 days of the request filing, the complainant
can ask for a WTO dispute settlement panel to be set up that will make a
definitive ruling.
"We delivered our stance to Canada that we will respond to its appeal at the
WTO," said an official at the trade ministry in Seoul. "But nothing has yet been
decided."
South Korea banned Canadian beef in May 2003 over fears of mad cow disease.
Canada argues that the World Organization for Animal Health recognized Canada as
a "controlled risk" country in 2007 for beef, the same status as the United
States.
South Korea banned the import of U.S. beef in December 2003, but partially lifted
the ban last year.
sam@yna.co.kr
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