According to Meat and Livestock Australia, Agents France Presse (AFP) is reporting that the Korean Government has bowed to pressure from citizens and opposition parties and will delay the administrative procedures that would have allowed US beef to enter the market as early as next week.

MLA says the Korean government made an official announcement last week that it would allow quarantine inspections to resume, following the 18 April agreement reached between the two nations.

Procedural steps to lift the ban were supposed to be completed on Tuesday, June 3.

But now the 5,300 tonnes of frozen US beef in Korea, due to have been released this week, will remain in storage.

MLA says this development increases the uncertainty in the Korean market for both importers and exporters.

It is not clear how long the latest delay will last, however, there are estimates of up to three months to come to a deal.

Preparations will begin in July for Korean Thanksgiving (Chuseok), a peak beef consumption period which falls in early September.

MLA says this will potentially mean a boost in demand for Australian product for this period, particularly given the recent run down in imported beef stocks in anticipation of the US return.

According to AFP, thousands of protesters have staged regular candle-lit demonstrations, which have recently escalated to violent clashes with riot police, demanding the ban on US beef remain in place.

They claim the government has not secured safeguards against the alleged dangers posed by the human form of mad cow disease. The new President’s popularity has plummeted as a result of the beef issue after only 100 days in office, and street demonstrations continue around the country.

According to Reuters, the US said it would not renegotiate the deal but is willing to work with its Asian ally.