Trade News

<a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSSEO27686720080418?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews">South Korea relaxes U.S. beef import rules</a><br />n<br />nThis news has been trumpeted all over the agricultural sites. South Korea will accept US Beef again and its great. I'm going to throw a little cold water on this news though. I don't beleive it will happen. Check this out.<br />n<br />n<blockquote>South Korea on Friday agreed to open up to U.S. beef imports after Washington pledged to raise safety standards, boosting prospects for a sweeping trade deal ahead of a summit between leaders of the allies later in the day.<br />n<br />nBeef from cattle older than 30 months can come in once U.S. safety standards are improved.</blockquote><br />n<br />nThe US has to improve "safety standards" for this to happen. What "safety standards" aren't up to par for South Korea? What a way for South Korea to weasel out of this agreement. They still don't have to let any beef in until these nebulous "safety standards" are met.<br />n<br />nUS beef producers need to get their heads out of their asses and see this for what it really is. A political move that won't help the beef markets at all. Just a way of advancing the US/South Korea free trade agreement.