[Editorial] Apple market opening accelerates... but enhancing competitiveness is urgent

[Agricultural, Fisheries, and Livestock News=Agricultural, Fisheries, and Livestock News] Concerns are growing among domestic farmers as the government has decided to strengthen cooperation on import hygiene procedures for U.S. fruits and vegetables in the Korea-U.S. tariff negotiations. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs recently decided to establish a dedicated "desk" to handle the approval process for importing fruits and vegetables such as apples and pears from the U.S. as a follow-up measure to the tariff negotiations. Until now, the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency only had regional-specific personnel for North America, South America, and the Middle East. The government explained that the U.S. dedicated desk is meant to enhance communication between the two countries' quarantine authorities regarding scientific analysis and procedure progress, but the establishment of a dedicated desk will expedite the import procedures for U.S. agricultural products beyond just enhancing communication.