ID :
88831
Tue, 11/10/2009 - 13:14
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Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/88831
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Yonhap Interview) Canada to make 'two-track' approach on beef row with S. Korea: FM
(By Tony Chang
SEOUL, Nov. 10 (Yonhap) -- Canada will resort to the World Trade Organization
(WTO) to arbitrate a dispute over a protracted South Korean ban on Canadian beef,
the visiting Canadian foreign minister said Tuesday.
Lawrence Cannon, who arrived here on Monday for a two-day visit, said his country
wants to invite South Korean lawmakers to visit Canada to inspect its
beef-related facilities, hoping to ease Korea's safety concerns over the meat.
South Korea banned all beef imports from Canada in May 2003, after the first case
of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), commonly called mad cow disease, was
confirmed in the North American country.
Canada claims South Korea is unduly delaying talks to lift current import
restrictions, arguing it is a victim of "discrimination" since Seoul lifted its
ban on U.S. beef last year.
In September, the WTO took steps to establish a dispute settlement panel that
will make a ruling on South Korea's longstanding ban on Canadian beef.
In an exclusive interview with Yonhap News Agency, Cannon said that his country
plans to continue challenging the WTO on "what we consider to be unfair tactics"
and "unfair position and treatment of the Canadian beef industry."
"We will continue on the two tracks ... the WTO challenge as well as of course
being able for parliamentarians to move that debate (regarding the safety of
Canadian beef) from an emotional debate to one of science-based."
Shortly after his arrival on Monday, Cannon paid a courtesy call on President Lee
Myung-bak and held talks with Yu Myung-hwan, his South Korean counterpart, along
with other senior officials to discuss a wide range of bilateral and multilateral
issues, most notably on the two countries' hosting of the Group of 20 summits
next year.
The minister said that he also had discussions that dealt "specifically with that
(beef) issue," and stressed the importance of taking a "scientific approach" to
the matter.
"We feel that it's extremely important to be able to have a scientific approach
to the issue. It has to be based on science," he said, further reassuring the
safety of beef products from his country.
"We feel that the system we've put in place is a very highly regarded system in
the world. It is safe. We consume Canadian beef. We've been able to put in the
most stringent measures possible."
Cannon also said that the Canadian government is willing to facilitate
inspections by South Korean lawmakers at the country's beef processing
facilities.
"Both members of the parliament, both governing party as well as opposition
members, are more than welcome to come and see exactly what we're doing and how
the Canadian food inspection agency goes about to make sure ... there are no
problems within the chain."
In 2002, before the ban went into effect, Canada was South Korea's fourth-largest
supplier of beef after the U.S., Australia and New Zealand, with 16,400 tons or
US$37 million worth of meat being imported annually.
Regarding a broader scope of bilateral trade, Cannon said a free trade agreement
between the two countries would be "in the best interest" of both South Korea and
Canada.
When asked about specific agendas that may be explored in the upcoming G20 summit
slated for June in Canada, Cannon said that it will be "couched in the most part
in economic issues."
"To go in to the nitty gritty of the agenda, we'll have to wait for the
respective leaders to make those announcements."
On the North Korean nuclear stalemate, the foreign minister said that he was
"well aware of President Lee's commitment" to his so-called grand bargain
approach. Cannon noted that the six-parties involved in the denuclearization
talks must "sit down and continue discussions."
"I think that the six-party talks need to be set in motion as soon as possible to
achieve that objective (of ultimately denuclearizing North Korea)."
The six-party talks -- involving the two Koreas, the U.S., China, Japan and
Russia -- have been in a lull over U.N. sanctions against the North's missile and
nuclear tests earlier this year.
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, Nov. 10 (Yonhap) -- Canada will resort to the World Trade Organization
(WTO) to arbitrate a dispute over a protracted South Korean ban on Canadian beef,
the visiting Canadian foreign minister said Tuesday.
Lawrence Cannon, who arrived here on Monday for a two-day visit, said his country
wants to invite South Korean lawmakers to visit Canada to inspect its
beef-related facilities, hoping to ease Korea's safety concerns over the meat.
South Korea banned all beef imports from Canada in May 2003, after the first case
of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), commonly called mad cow disease, was
confirmed in the North American country.
Canada claims South Korea is unduly delaying talks to lift current import
restrictions, arguing it is a victim of "discrimination" since Seoul lifted its
ban on U.S. beef last year.
In September, the WTO took steps to establish a dispute settlement panel that
will make a ruling on South Korea's longstanding ban on Canadian beef.
In an exclusive interview with Yonhap News Agency, Cannon said that his country
plans to continue challenging the WTO on "what we consider to be unfair tactics"
and "unfair position and treatment of the Canadian beef industry."
"We will continue on the two tracks ... the WTO challenge as well as of course
being able for parliamentarians to move that debate (regarding the safety of
Canadian beef) from an emotional debate to one of science-based."
Shortly after his arrival on Monday, Cannon paid a courtesy call on President Lee
Myung-bak and held talks with Yu Myung-hwan, his South Korean counterpart, along
with other senior officials to discuss a wide range of bilateral and multilateral
issues, most notably on the two countries' hosting of the Group of 20 summits
next year.
The minister said that he also had discussions that dealt "specifically with that
(beef) issue," and stressed the importance of taking a "scientific approach" to
the matter.
"We feel that it's extremely important to be able to have a scientific approach
to the issue. It has to be based on science," he said, further reassuring the
safety of beef products from his country.
"We feel that the system we've put in place is a very highly regarded system in
the world. It is safe. We consume Canadian beef. We've been able to put in the
most stringent measures possible."
Cannon also said that the Canadian government is willing to facilitate
inspections by South Korean lawmakers at the country's beef processing
facilities.
"Both members of the parliament, both governing party as well as opposition
members, are more than welcome to come and see exactly what we're doing and how
the Canadian food inspection agency goes about to make sure ... there are no
problems within the chain."
In 2002, before the ban went into effect, Canada was South Korea's fourth-largest
supplier of beef after the U.S., Australia and New Zealand, with 16,400 tons or
US$37 million worth of meat being imported annually.
Regarding a broader scope of bilateral trade, Cannon said a free trade agreement
between the two countries would be "in the best interest" of both South Korea and
Canada.
When asked about specific agendas that may be explored in the upcoming G20 summit
slated for June in Canada, Cannon said that it will be "couched in the most part
in economic issues."
"To go in to the nitty gritty of the agenda, we'll have to wait for the
respective leaders to make those announcements."
On the North Korean nuclear stalemate, the foreign minister said that he was
"well aware of President Lee's commitment" to his so-called grand bargain
approach. Cannon noted that the six-parties involved in the denuclearization
talks must "sit down and continue discussions."
"I think that the six-party talks need to be set in motion as soon as possible to
achieve that objective (of ultimately denuclearizing North Korea)."
The six-party talks -- involving the two Koreas, the U.S., China, Japan and
Russia -- have been in a lull over U.N. sanctions against the North's missile and
nuclear tests earlier this year.
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)
