S. Korea, Canada to begin consultations over beef trade row

SEOUL, May 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Saturday it will hold a consultation
with Canada in Geneva next week to resolve a beef trade row.
Last month, Canada filed a petition to the Geneva-based World Trade Organization
(WTO) to settle the bilateral dispute over beef imports, hoping that both sides
can resolve differences through consultations.

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.
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 filing, the complainant can ask
for a WTO dispute settlement panel to be set up to make a definitive ruling.
sam@yna.co.kr
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