April 18,2008

Grassley Welcomes South Korea’s Agreement to Accept U.S. Beef

M E M O R A N D U M

To: Reporters and Editors
Re: South Korea on U.S. beef
Da: Friday, April 18, 2008

Sen. Chuck Grassley, ranking member of the Committee on Finance, with jurisdiction overinternational trade, made the following comment in response to today’s announcement that SouthKorea will reopen its market to all imports of U.S. beef products.

“I’m pleased that South Korea has agreed to reopen its market to U.S. beef. This is longoverdue, and I appreciate the priority that President Lee placed on making it happen. The next stepis to get the beef trade flowing. I’ll be closely monitoring the implementation of today’s agreement.We need to see U.S. beef again enter the South Korean market in commercial quantities. It used tobe our third-largest export market, and the potential is significant for our beef producers. Theresumption of normal trade in beef should open up additional opportunities to further enhance ourbilateral trade relationship.”