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Food News Clipping

October 31, 2012

2012.10.31

FAS/Seoul Monitoring of Media Reporting on Agricultural Issues

Today's Date:   Wednesday, October 31, 2012

For Coverage:  October 30 - 31, 2012  

 

   

1. BILATERAL/MULTILATERAL ISSUES

 

Korea-EU free trade deal benefits both sides[English, BYK]

http://nwww.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20121029000846

Summary: The free trade agreement between Korea and the EU was signed on Oct. 15, 2009, and came into force on July 1, 2011.  Under the FTA, the EU agreed to eliminate or phase out tariffs on 96 percent of goods, and Korea for 99 percent of goods, within three years. Within five years, 98.7 percent of imports would be tariff-free.  Beside tariff reduction, the FTA brings reductions in non-tariff barriers to market access, including elimination of quotas, standardization of product specifications, agreements on simplified product testing, and others. Finally, the FTA harmonizes the countries¡¯ rules for business operation, including the use of intellectual property, treatment of workers, and liberalization in cross-country financing and market access.

 

2. GRAIN & OILSEED ISSUES

 

[Editorial] Looming food crisis[English, BYK]

http://nwww.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20121029000525

Summary: As international cereal prices continue to rise, the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has come up with a plan to increase the production of winter cereals, such as wheat and barley, and coarse fodders.  The ministry¡¯s response calls for increasing the sown areas of winter grains and roughage from 250,000 hectares last year to around 300,000 hectares this year using farmland that lies idle in winter. The ministry seeks to boost the self-sufficiency rate of wheat from 2 percent to more than 6 percent and that of barley from 18 percent to around 27 percent. The target for coarse fodders is 87 percent, up from the current 81 percent.

 

3. MARKETING ISSUES

 

Foreign Travelers Transferring in Inchon Airport Are Allowed to Enter Korea Without Visas for up to 12 Hours ¡¦ Likely to Boost Quick Shopping in Seoul [Korean, OSY]

Summary: A pilot Visa waiver program for foreign travelers transferring in Inchon International Airport went into effect on October 29.  Under the program that will last for three months, foreign travelers are allowed to enter Korea for up to 12 hours.  Retail industry has welcomed the program as many of the transfer travelers are likely to come up to Seoul, one hour ride distance on a train from the airport, for quick shopping.  Industry estimates that over 24,000 foreign travelers ware likely to use the program during the 3 month trail period.
 

The information in this report was compiled by the Agricultural Trade Office (ATO) at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, South Korea. The press summaries contained herein do NOT reflect USDA, the U.S. Embassy, or other U.S. government agency official policy or view point. U.S. food exporters can learn more about market opportunities in South Korea by reviewing ATO Seoul's Exporter Guide and other reports available at www.fas.usda.gov by clicking on "attaché report".

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Agricultural Trade Office, U.S. Embassy - Seoul
Tel: 82-2-6951-6848 Fax: 82-2-720-7921
Email: atoseoul@state.gov