Korean Job Discussion Forums

[charlieDD]

(NB: Some of you may say "the jig is up"; it's the same thing.)

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200703/s1885590.htm

The Australian beef exporters and their partner importers in Korea have had a good run while American beef has been out of the market. Australian beef used to make up a very small percentage of the beef imported by Korea. It has, since the ban on American beef, replaced the market position of the American beef. I believe the figure is somewhere around 180,000 tons of Australian beef imported a year now (I would guess that's thanks in large part to Outback Steakhouse! {{ . . which is an American company, by the way.}}

An interesting fact revealed in this linked article: 40% is the tariff on Australian beef ? Interestingly, it still sells for significantly less than Korean beef. If the American beef comes in at 0%, like the Australian official says may be the FTA agreement, . . . American beef is going to be, compared to Korean beef, super cheap. But, . . . will it actually make it to the market and into your shopping cart at such low prices; or, will the importers, distributors and supermarkets all just wink at each other and keep the prices right up there where they can continue to soak the consumer?

And, I wonder: Will American beef makes it way back into Outback Steakhouse if this deal goes through? I mean, it is an American company after all. And, before the mad cow incident, it served American beef. And how about McD's and BK - - American beef burgers?

On the FTA aspect: Apparently the Koreans have been finding ways to hold off the full resumption of imports of American beef in order to use it as a card to play in these negotiations, primarily to get a concession on rice market opening.

Related article on beef prices in Korea (highest among 29 countries surveyed; even higher than Japan by $15 a kilo):
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/nation/200703/kt2007031515483911950.htm

[Milwaukiedave]

FYI: There is a thread about the FTA in the current events forum as well.

I hope that Korea wises up and allows American beef, but they are being pretty stubborn about it.

[Adventurer]

[gsxr750r]

It's America's own damn fault.

Match Hyundai and Kia cars with a 40% tax, even if they're built there, or even just on Samsung products, and we'll soon see them cave on the beef.

We've let them dump cheap stuff on us long enough. This is the sole issue I agree with Nancy Pelosci on.

[Wangja]

What a coincidence: Free Trade is about the only thing I agree on with Bush.

On the beef issue, I prefer the Aussie beef. I have no beef with US beef but U/S beef .....

[rothkowitz]

I'd like to be able to say Korean beef gig is up,but then,quite often it's probably actually better cuts of aussie beef they're selling.

[pkang0202]

US Beef, Aussie Beef, who cares as long as I can buy it cheaper.

These beef prices are ridiculous. Maybe they can sell US beef cheap and Aussie beef a little more expensive. The public already thinks Aussie beef is superior to US beef.

As for as Outback is concerned, they are going to go with the cheapest supplier.

Aren't Mcdonald hamburgers precooked?

[bixlerscott]

I find the Australian beef to be quite a bit more leaner and tastier than the American beef. Australian beef is grass fed and allowed to roam around since they have enormous expanses of land to raise cattle on. American beef is real fatty, except the fillet. Probably has to do with the cows being kept in pins not larger than a cow while being pumped full of growth hormones with automatic water and feed dispensers. Same for American and Korean pork alike being very fatty.

Korea, like Europe, simply does not want that garbage beef in thier diets.

[butlerian]

[buster brown]

Sorry Bix, but beef cattle in the States are allowed to roam around and munch on grass, supplemented with hay in the winter. I'm from the South and I've been on quite a few cattle farms. Just before going to market, cows are sent to 'finishing