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The issue of Nebraska beef exports to South Korea will be on the agenda when Gov. Dave Heineman hosts South Korean Ambassador Lee Tae-sik during his visit to Omaha Tuesday.
Heineman said he is looking forward to meeting and talking with Ambassador Lee.
"This is an opportunity for Nebraska businesses to make an important connection," Heineman said. "In previous years, South Korea was an important market for our agricultural producers and those in the agribusiness sector. We want to build on that relationship and expand opportunities for other Nebraska industries to do business with South Korea."
More than 40 Nebraska companies are currently exporting goods to South Korea, which has also been a significant market for Nebraska agricultural producers. Prior to instituting a ban on U.S. beef in late 2003, South Korea was Nebraska's second largest beef market, valued at $108 million annually.
Overall, Nebraska exports to South Korea totaled $167 million in 2003. In 2007, exports were $127 million, making South Korea the state's sixth largest international export market.
In 2006, South Korea reopened its border to U.S. beef after it lifted a ban imposed in December 2003 when a cow tested positive in Washington state for mad cow disease.
As part of the agreement to reopen beef trade with South Korea, only boneless meat from cattle younger than 30 months is allowed.
But South Korea had to halt U.S. beef exports on a number of occasions during the past two years when the agreement was violated by the U.S. when it shipped beef with bone in it to South Korea.
Earlier this week, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged South Korea to lift import restrictions on US beef before a free trade agreement signed between the two countries.
South Korea was the third largest market for US beef, with imports worth 850 million dollars a year before the ban in 2003.
"We still have a ways to go to regain ground in this market and I look forward to discussing the need for improved market access for our beef products in particular," Heineman said. "We continue to make the case for Nebraska products in foreign markets around the world and this visit is a great opportunity to showcase some of what Nebraska has to offer."
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