South Korea says it could resume beef imports next week

South Korea, which reworked an unpopular US beef import deal that sparked mass street protests, could soon resume imports once a legal step has been completed, the trade minister said yesterday.

South Korea and the United States reached a private-sector deal in Washington this week to limit US beef exports to cattle under 30 months old, which are thought to pose less risk of mad cow disease to consumers, Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon told reporters on Saturday.

The Bush administration yesterday confirmed that US beef exporters are set to resume shipments, under restrictions.

"Korean beef importers and US exporters have reached a commercial understanding that only US beef from cattle under 30 months of age will be shipped to Korea, as a transitional measure, to improve Korean consumer confidence in US beef," US Trade Representative Susan Schwab said in a statement issued in Washington.

Kim said after the news conference that the publication of the notice that would start the legal process to resume quarantine inspections was expected "some time next week."

Once the legal notice is published, US beef that has been in frozen storage in South Korea for months could be inspected and then head to store shelves.

This could happen as early as next week, although Kim later said that it might not be so soon because of the sensitivity of the issue for South Koreans.

The arrangement, which officials said would take effect shortly, will also allow Seoul to block exports of any specific product or from any processing plant if it finds "serious" violation of trade rules.

South Korea and the United States first reached a deal in April that would allow in all cuts of US beef regardless of age.