The U.S. and South Korea intend to negotiate a bilateral free-trade agreement (FTA). USDA Secretary Mike Johanns says the agreement will “greatly improve access for our producers to Korean consumers that seek high quality and affordably priced U.S. products.”

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association says its members support the FTA “and expect to see the full reopening of this market to all U.S. beef, significant reductions of Korea's tariffs, and resolution of important sanitary and phytosanitary issues.”