Beef export challenges differ from Japan to Korea

A delegation of beef and corn producers from Nebraska and Iowa maintain that there are different challenges for beef export market growth in Japan and South Korea.

Following a trade mission to those countries, Thedford, Nebraska rancher David Hamilton says Japanese consumers are ready for U.S. grain-fed beef if the governments of Japan and the United States can agree on access issues. He sees a difference, however, in the South Korean situation.

“The greatest challenge I see in Korea is the lack of consumer acceptance based on food safety,” Hamilton said in an interview provided by the U.S. Meat Export Federation. “There’s still many perceptions among Korean consumers that U.S. beef is not safe.”

Meanwhile, Winfield, Iowa corn grower Merle Unkritch says it’s important that the U.S. remain committed to the Korean market if there’s to be any expectation of beef export growth there.

“It’s an absolute must because there’s 50 million people over here and we’ve got all kinds of opportunities if we can just change the attitude and mind,” said Unkritch at the conclusion of the trade mission.

The mission ended with a U.S. Meat Export Federation-sponsored beef barbeque outside a large Korean discount store.