WASHINGTON (AFP) — The White House on Tuesday expressed "concerns" about South Korea's plans to turn away US beef imports from cattle more than 30 months old and said it would work with Seoul on the issue.
"We're in communication with the Korean government to try to understand their plan. We'll continue to work with US industry and our Korean counterparts to ensure that our concerns are addressed," said spokesman Tony Fratto.
His comments came after South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak announced that South Korea will not accept imports of US beef from cattle more than 30 months old, as he negotiated his biggest test yet since taking office 100 days ago.
After protests that have brought thousands of people onto the streets over fears of mad cow disease, the government imposed the limit as a condition for resuming beef imports which have been intermittently banned for years.
The move risked a stand-off with Washington, but may ease public anger which has seen Lee's popularity ratings tumble by half since he took power pledging to reactivate the sluggish economy.
"It is natural for the government not to import US beef from cattle older than 30 months, if the people are concerned and the majority of the people do not want it," Lee was quoted as saying by a spokesman.
"The people's trust in the government has weakened seriously because of this issue," he told a meeting of cabinet ministers.
South Korea lifted its intermittent ban on US beef imports last week as it struggles to ratify a sweeping free trade agreement with the world's biggest economy.
It had imported some 850 million dollars worth of US beef a year before the ban was imposed for the first time in 2003.
An initial accord struck in April called for Seoul to buy almost all beef cuts including those from cattle over 30 months old. Older animals are deemed more likely to be a mad cow disease risk.
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