The New York Times is reporting that South Korean and US trade negotiators are close to reaching a revised agreement in which US beef exporters would voluntarily ship only beef from cows younger than 30 months.
Under the probable agreement, the United States would not, strictly speaking, change its trade rules, according to the officials close to the talks. But it would certify the age of the beef being exported.
There was no mention of bone-in versus boneless beef, and according to the story, the actual wording of the original agreement has been left intact. The talks have yielded only a voluntary compliance with the 30-month age restriction. Somehow I don’t think this is going to appease the protest organizers and their most loyal supporters.
26 Comments
Since the protests were never really about beef or the safety of imports I think your conclusion is about right.
Tee hee.
Time well spent protesters.
lol.
what does this part of the article mean?
“Mr. Lee’s cabinet resigned this month amid the protests, which have revived anti-American sentiment not seen in South Korea since during the cold war.”
…other than that the author doesn’t have a full grasp of what goes on in Korea.
“…the Bush administration has taken the position that it cannot change its trade accords with South Korea. Instead, American officials have called on South Korea to honor its pledge to lift the ban after the World Organization for Animal Health ruled in May 2007 that American beef was fit for consumption.”
The kneejerk korean haters response would likely be, “expect Korea to honor its pledge? HAHAHA!” but in reality, that’s why we are where we are. 2MB and administration were trying to honor it, but then the waxbrains got over-involved.
And the involvement of the waxbrains, as you put it, has resulted in the inability of Korean leadership to honor the previous administration’s torturously-negotiated pledge(s). So how, again, is it incorrect for the “kneejerk Korean haters” to sneer at the insensibility of expecting this nation to place the same value on agreements and pledges?
We’re talking about a tautology anyway. Just because someone hates Korea, does that make the criticism untrue? Just because someone criticizes Korea, does that make the person a “Korea hater”?
If this bit of tripe goes through, I hope that some disaffected cattle growers mount a legal challenge to it and prevent the waxbrains @ State and USTR from gutting the principled agreement in the interests of a mistaken belief in the importance of Korea, America’s responsibility as Uncle Sucker eternitas and/or their pathetic self-interested and national interest sapping need for a legacy.
“Somehow I don’t think this is going to appease the protest organizers and their most loyal supporters.”
But… could take some wind out of their sails. The average rank and file have to be tired of protesting night in and night out, then going to work/school the next day.
I think people are at risk of being labeled “korean haters’ when their criticism is not viewed as impartial, whether due to a an unconscious bias, ignorance or other motives. IMHO, most ‘korean haters’ receive the appellation as a result of ignorance, a cause they are often reluctant to concede.
I’m not sure if what you’re suggesting is quite a textbook tautology, but your point does get across clear enough.
Myungbak is simply doing a very bad job, and it will be fun to see if he can recover, or whether he will be a lame duck president for longer than Noh.
The honeymoon here is getting shorter and shorter.
He hasn’t been in office long enough to do a bad job.
People started protesting two months into his presidency.
How can he do a ‘bad job’ when he hasn’t been there long enough to anything?
This deal was the only substantial thing he’s done.
It’s because the deal was struck with the ‘evil Americans’. That’s his ‘bad job’.
That other crap is just that. Crap.
I really hate this layout. Everything is so…long…
The power of participation, the power of political organizing, no matter to what end, people. I know of no scientific basis for the 30 month issue, but the Koreans are getting what they want because they went to the streets.
You have to ask, what does it take for Americans or Canadians to demand action from their gov’ts like this, on any issue?
Once again, we see that the US Gov’t is asleep at the switch in Korea relations. Because what did the Koreans give up to get this? Was there ANY discussions about what the Koreans should give up in the media to have the right to renege? Nope. Until America cares enough to protect its interests here, this will keep happening.
I agree its too ‘long’. Its shorter without typing enter after each line. Maybe two columns would work better. Links on one side and content on another. LMB is suffering for what he is, not what he has done. People wanted him, now they have him. Now we have to live with him.
Maybe he will be like our Bush. rr
Sorry, that convoluted sentence near the end should read,
“Were there ANY discussions in the media about what the Koreans should have to give up in exchange for reneging?”
I get so worked up.. hehe
*sigh* The reasons for the protests change so much…
First it’s the beef, now it’s not the beef, it’s LMB’S ‘bad job’. Now it’s not his ‘bad job’, it’s just him, period’. Oh and throw in the exploitation of two dead girls, Kwangju massacre, etc., And the reasons become one big blob.
@#9
“The power of participation, the power of political organizing, no matter to what end, people. I know of no scientific basis for the 30 month issue, but the Koreans are getting what they want because they went to the streets.”
“You have to ask, what does it take for Americans or Canadians to demand action from their gov’ts like this, on any issue?”
Americans got bashed for being racists and xenophobes for protesting the immigration reform that Congress tried to sneak through not too long ago. Pro-reformists took to the streets with far more participants than these candlelight vigils.
But others also got their voices heard without taking to the streets. Through talk radio, internet petitions and just flooding the phone lines of their Senators and Representatives. Whether you think we ARE racist or not for reactions, at least we took it to who we really felt was responsible–the government.
Um, a lobotomy?
Flying planes into buildings works rather effectively.
Or the government launching an anthrax attack on its own citizens, that was pretty good, too.
@4
My comment was meant more as an endorsement of 2MB’s now-ailing efforts than as a denouncement of the k-haters.
swlee,
Your fascination with 9/11 is sickening. I am pretty sure you are just trolling for responses. I could make light of any number of Korean tragedies as rebutal, but I have a little class!
S(o) W(rong) Lee posted…….
“Or the government launching an anthrax attack on its own citizens, that was pretty good, too.”
And your proof of this?
None of course.
TAKE A WALK YOU IDIOT !
You have to understand, Lucas, 9/11 is A급 porn for anti-American wankers.
(oops, I said the p-word, here come the ads)
#15
While I do not dislike everything that swlee says, I do find his repeated and somewhat sarcastic mention of 9/11 and boxcutters uncalled for. I am all for free speech but I believe that even those that might think you sometimes have a point will only be put off by such insensitive remarks.
I guess you might say that this mention was called for because Americans did have an emotional reaction to 9/11 but comparing the beef issue to 9/11 is rather farfetched.
In previous posts, in response to a list of what Koreans cannot do (which I did not agree with) you responded with the list of things that Americans haven’t learned to do…all relating to 9/11. Yes, the original post was rather insensitive but your 9/11 remarks are not witty, interesting, or appropriate.
Having opposing commenters keeps this blog interesting but these remarks do not further your cause or show any intelligence.
USTR should have demanded an end to the 40% tariff on beef in exchange for the 30-month limit. That would’ve been a win-slight loss for those of us living here.
Just in case you missed my prior post..
These guys in the picture have been active in every anti-US beef, anti-FTA, anti-McArthur-statue, anti-US-two girls dead, anti-US-military camps, anti-South Korean-government, anti-South Korea business demonstrations, strikes, and “protests”.
http://gall.dcinside.com/list&.....5%EB%A0%AC
They were spotted recently in North Korea attending the Korean Unification Conference sponsored by North Korea. The Korean Teacher’s Union are also the same types of people with similar beliefs along the lines, with predictable results on the young minds. The Candle Girls weren’t just created out of a vacuum.
Advice regarding trolls:
Ignore them or at least if you’re going to respond, crack a joke at their expense rather than getting indignant. Serious and angry responses feed the troll’s habit. That’s why Pawi’s been hanging around for years.
Getting a buzz on.Wanting to comment on same old snipery and masturbatory anonymous keyboard courage, but why???
Anybody know where I can find a Lizzie Borden torrent download?
Jag,
RE: 24..
MAKC… I think you’ve coined a new term for the 21st century.
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