Today's Date:  Thursday, July 12, 2012

1. BILATERAL/MULTILATERAL ISSUES

Korea and Canada to resume talks on FTA [Korean: BYK]

http://www.mt.co.kr/view/mtview.php?type=1&no=2012071114460725214&outlink=1

Summary: According to the ROKG, Korea and Canada has agreed to resume FTA talks after holding a working level talk earlier this month in Canada.  FTA talks with Canada began in July 2005 but got suspended after the dispute over beef imports in March 2008.  However, with the resumption of beef imports from Canada in March of this year, both countries agreed to resume the FTA talks before the end of this year during a summit meeting in June.

2. LIVESTOCK ISSUES

Chilean beef imports to be allowed into Korea [Korean: BYK]

http://www.nongmin.com/article/ar_detail.htm?ar_id=204804&subMenu=articletotal

Summary:  MIFAFF announced the protocol for Chilean beef imports on July 4^th.  Accordingly, a total of 400 MT (200 MT of chilled beef and 200 MT of frozen beef) will be allowed to be imported duty-free under the Korea-Chile FTA.

3. MARKETING ISSUES

E-mart Introduces Half-Priced Wines Tomorrow [Korean, WYS]

http://biz.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2012/07/10/2012071002794.html

Summary: Due to lower price after the improvement in distribution structure, E-mart will introduce half-priced wine in the domestic market tomorrow. Starting from 12^th, E-mart will start sales of 4 kinds of Mirassou wines (cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, pinot noir, moscato) in all 145 stores at almost the price of 17,500 won.

E-mart Starts Sale of Popular Import Fruit, Blueberries Today[Korean, WYS]

http://www.seoulfn.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=138866

Summary: As the permission has been granted for importing wild blueberries into Korea, E-mart will start the sales of wild blueberries. Because of known benefits of blueberries such as improving eye sights, wild blueberries are expected to change the sales trend of fruit markets.

Emart to Launch Fresh Blueberries Imported from the U.S. on July 13 [Korean, OSY]

http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/economy/2012/07/11/0318000000AKR20120711194700003.HTML

Summary: Emart announced that it would start selling fresh blueberries imported from the U.S. on July 13.  State of Oregon has been allowed to export fresh blueberries to Korea this year, and Emart has so far brought 2 metric tons into Korea by air shipping.  Retail price will be 9,900 won per 310 gram pack.

4. OTHER MISCELLANEOUS ISSUES

Seventeen Support Industries Chosen to Endorse Attendance to Agriculture Export Exhibition[Korean, WYS]

http://news.mk.co.kr/v3/view.php?sc=30100035&cm=무역•통상&year=2012&no=423818&relatedcode=&sID=301

Summary: Korea Agro-fisheries & Food Trade Corp Chose seventeen support industries to endorse attendance to Agriculture Export Exhibition.