Tyson Foods and Cargill Shunned By South Korea

News reports indicate that the government of South Korea has banned U. S. beef:

South Korea slapped a de facto ban on imports of U.S. beef Monday after recent shipments that were intended for domestic consumption, not export, the Agriculture Ministry said.

South Korea decided not to issue needed import certificates for U.S. beef until Washington explains why two recent shipments intended for domestic consumption were sent to South Korea and can ensure it won't happen again, said Kim Do-soon, a ministry official.

International trade is important to the US: "In 2003 alone, South Korea bought about $813.2 million worth of American beef, according to the U.S. Meat Export Federation."