Both Parties Oppose Opening Agricultural and Livestock Markets.. Lee Government in Dilemma

[Financial News] As it became known that the Lee Jae-myung government plans to use the opening of the agricultural and livestock markets as a card in tariff negotiations with the Donald Trump U.S. administration, both parties have opposed it. This is in consideration of the 'Nongshim' which is directly connected to local public sentiment.
First, Song Eon-seok, chairman of the emergency committee of the People Power Party and floor leader, expressed concern at a floor countermeasure meeting held at the National Assembly on the 18th, saying, "The anxiety of farmers is growing" regarding the strategic judgment mentioned by Han-koo Yeo, head of the Trade Negotiation Headquarters of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, about the opening of the agricultural and livestock markets demanded by the U.S. side. "If imports of fruits like American apples and beef expand, the competitiveness of domestic agricultural and livestock products will be weakened," he worried.
Chairman Song of the emergency committee urged, "I am not unaware of the importance of tariff negotiations, but it should not be based on the unilateral sacrifice of farmers," and strongly requested the government to "engage in negotiations with the determination to protect the survival rights of farmers."
Even the ruling Democratic Party is in a mood to oppose the opening of agricultural and livestock products. Kim Byung-ki, acting representative of the Democratic Party and floor leader, said at the policy coordination meeting the previous day, "It is known that the U.S. is also demanding the easing of import restrictions on rice and beef, and the allowance of GMO imports," and "The era of unilateral concessions according to the logic of power and alliance like in the past is over. Engage in negotiations with backbone," implying that concessions should not be made easily.
The Democratic Party's National Assembly Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock, Food, Marine and Fisheries Committee members also issued a statement on the 15th. They warned, "In the process of Korea-U.S. trade negotiations, agriculture is never a negotiable tool," and "Easing beef import conditions, further opening the rice market, expanding GMO imports, and easing quarantine standards are major issues directly related to food sovereignty and public health."
Regarding this, Im Mi-ae, a member of the Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock, Food, Marine and Fisheries Committee, argued on MBC Radio on the 16th, "When American beef is over 30 months old, it comes as ground meat, and you can't know what is mixed in," and "It becomes an issue not only for farmers but also for consumer health and safety." She continued, "The facilities and procedures for handling by-products mixed in ground meat are not well organized. It will be difficult for the public to handle," she worried.
Democratic Party members of the Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock, Food, Marine and Fisheries Committee also called Han-koo Yeo, head of the Trade Negotiation Headquarters, to the National Assembly for a meeting on the same day, indicating that they conveyed their request not to accept the opening of the agricultural and livestock markets, as Yeo is about to visit the U.S. for tariff negotiations.
The Lee Jae-myung government has no choice but to be in a dilemma due to the opposition from both parties. This is because the opening of the agricultural and livestock markets has been a strongly demanded issue by the Trump administration since the National Trade Estimate Report (NTE) published by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) in March. It is caught between U.S. pressure and domestic backlash.

uknow@fnnews.com Kim Yun-ho Reporter