Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS) sent a letter to the South Korean Ambassador asking for "immediate resumption of beef trade based on sound science in accordance with international standards." Roberts wrote, "This rejection seems to be based on nothing more than a continued effort by Korea to build false barriers to trade between our two countries. This is not how two allies, with many mutual interests should conduct business."

Roberts went on to write, "Continued barriers to resuming this trade, and unfair actions that are not based on science, will lead me to seriously question Korea's commitment to any other trade and foreign policy agreements with the U.S."
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C., correspondent