On Friday, South Korea agreed to resume beef imports from the United States that were halted in 2003 by concerns over mad cow disease. The decision comes a few hours before President Lee Myung-bak of South is to meet President Bush in Washington to discuss free trade and North Korea.

According to the New York Times, “the deal clears an important obstacle to Congressional support for a wider free trade deal that the Bush administration has struck with South Korea. The agreement to allow American beef imports, which is unpopular among South Korean farmers, shows how eager Mr. Lee is to mend ties with Washington.”

Imports will resume in mid-May. The two presidential candidates, Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton oppose a free trade agreement with South Korea. Congressional approval for the trade deal is needed.

Experts have estimated that the trade deal could boost the countries’ two-way annual trade by $20 billion.

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