Korean Farmers Warn of Protests Over U.S. Trade Talks Impacting Agriculture
Farmers in South Korea Say No to More U.S. Imports Without Their Approval
South Korean farmers are strongly opposing new trade talks with the United States that could lead to more foreign agricultural and livestock products entering the country. On Friday, four major farming groups held a press conference outside the presidential office in Seoul, warning the government not to use their industries as a bargaining chip in the negotiations.
“If the government removes tariffs or weakens import rules without our approval, we will protest together across the country,” the groups said in a joint statement. “This is not only about farmers—it’s about protecting the food and health of 50 million Koreans.”
The farmers’ concerns come as South Korea continues tariff talks with the U.S., which wants the country to lower or remove trade barriers on American goods. The U.S. is also pressuring South Korea to ease its rules on certain products, such as older American beef (due to mad cow disease concerns) and genetically modified crops.
Earlier this year, the U.S. Trade Representative criticized South Korea’s strict regulations on agricultural products, including rules on chemical residues and genetically modified organisms (LMOs). These are some of the key points of conflict in the ongoing discussions.
Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo recently said that all trade deals involve “some pain,” but added that compromises might help Korean agriculture become more competitive in the long run. His remarks came after a recent trip to Washington, where he met with top U.S. trade officials.
But farmers strongly disagree. They argue that opening the market even more would only increase imports from the U.S., hurting local producers who are already struggling.
“South Korea is already the fifth-largest buyer of U.S. agricultural and livestock goods,” the farmers said. “Since the 2012 free trade deal, imports from the U.S. have gone up by nearly 57%. Opening the market further would threaten our entire farming system.”
The groups have warned that if their demands are ignored, they will organize large-scale protests to defend South Korea’s food system and local farmers.
