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S.Korea warns crackdown on protests over US beef
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-06-08 20:05 But much of his policy agenda has been put on hold because parliament is mired by an opposition boycott. INTENSE PRESSURE Lee has so far weathered intense political pressure and refused to give in to demands that his government renegotiate the beef deal because such a move could backfire and cause "tremendous problems" for South Korea's export-dependent economy. Lee and Bush discussed the free-trade pact during their call on Saturday and Bush expressed "his strong commitment to secure promptly congressional approval", a White House spokesman said. Uncertainties about the future of the Korean beef market, which was the third-largest US export market with an annual turnover of $850 million a year, have fuelled opposition among some lawmakers to the broader trade pact. South Korean opposition lawmakers have boycotted a new session of parliament, dealing a blow to Lee and his plan to push sweeping economic reforms. They have also threatened to shelve the US free-trade agreement until Lee's government renegotiates the beef deal so that it bans imported beef from the United States from cattle 30 months and older. Agricultural officials say there is a greater risk of catching mad cow disease from cattle older than 30 months. |
