Canada Requests WTO Panel on South Korea’s Continuing Ban on Canadian Beef

(Minister of International Trade)

The Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, and the Honourable Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board, today [Thursday] announced that the Government of Canada is requesting the establishment of a World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement panel on the issue of South Korea’s continuing ban on the importation of Canadian beef.

“Recent consultations with South Korea on its Canadian beef ban regrettably did not produce the desired results,” said Minister Day. “Our request today for a WTO panel demonstrates our ongoing commitment to resolving this issue and defending the interests of Canadian producers.”

“Canadian ranchers produce beef that meets the highest safety and quality standards in the world,” said Minister Ritz. “This government has made it clear to South Korea that we will defend Canadian ranchers, and I delivered that point in person during my trip to Seoul in March 2009. The international scientific community recognizes that Canadian beef is safe, and we are confident a WTO dispute panel would rule in our favour.”