Mad Cows in Korea?

We haven't been hearing much about "Mad Cow Disease" in the U.S. lately, although the debate about unsafe meat packing plants and lack of USDA supervision rages on. Most Americans are probably worried about more immediate (or at least, newer) problems, such as $4+ per gallon gasoline ($5.25 per gallon of diesel, at one station I passed this morning!) or whether a person of African ancestry will ever be President of the United States if he doesn't wear the correct lapel pin, or even who's going to win on this season of "So You Think You Can Dance." Unless you are actually employed by a company in the meat packing, cattle ranching or food wholesaling industries, you're probably not thinking about "Mad Cow" anymore -- although you may be cooking your meat a little more thoroughly than you used to. Unfortunately, the same can not be said for all consumers of U.S. beef products...

South Korea had actually enacted a complete ban on U.S. meat products after the 2003 "outbreak" was detected -- although there is some justification in asking if three detected cases really constitutes an outbreak. The ban was lifted briefly last year, but quickly reimposed after bones and bone fragments (prohibited under the trade agreement) were found in some shipments. Then, earlier this year, South Korea elected a new, highly pro-U.S.A. President, and suddenly everything is fine again and the shipments of American beef products can resume. Only, it seems that the Korean public doesn't see it that way...

It turns out that the average South Korean is much more afraid of a horrible, fatal (if relatively rare) brain disease than they are of having a negative impact on the U.S. beef industry. South Korea was, prior to 2003, the third largest export market for American Beef, and it's hard to imagine that losing all of those sales has been at all good for the meat packing industry (already being hit hard by increases in fuel costs, a weak economy and lower consumer spending in the U.S., the resurgence of Spam as a main dish alternative and so on). In fact, if the public outcry is any indicator, consumers in South Korea are much less willing to take chances with the safety of their food supply than American or British shoppers, and the fact that the renewal of American beef imports is being seen as a pro-American politician caving in to pressure from Washington really ISN'T helping...

It's another really good example of how the global economy affects you, whether you like it or not. In point of fact, even if you are not employed by any company associated with beef production in the U.S., this issue will still have some impact on your existence, at least in the sense that another industry experiencing poor sales will contribute to the ongoing problems with the U.S. economy. The international tension doesn't help, either; the last thing we need is more countries where the people resent America and try to avoid buying the few exports we still have. The combination could easily lead to even more unemployment, an even worse trade imbalance with South Korea, and additional hits to an economy that is already lurching toward disaster...

Now I'm not suggesting that anyone reading these posts would ever do anything as stupid as engaging in unsafe business practices that allow a frightening disease to cross over from cattle into human beings, or anything as corrupt and evil as maintaining such a practice (and even bribing government inspectors trying to prevent it) in the face of incalcuble risks to both human life and safety and to our country's international reputation. I'm not even suggesting that anyone reading these words would run for public office, become a Lame Duck, and then maintain diplomatic policies that would place foreign consumers at risk while trashing our international relations, all to make a quick buck and curry favor with powerful political allies...

I am saying that what you don't know CAN hurt you. And if you aren't already reading the International Business news, you should probably consider starting...