Emporia ? Kansas Rep. Jerry Moran is asking the U.S. government to walk away from free-trade talks with South Korea until the Asian country changes its strict stance on beef imports.

South Korea has been open to American beef since September but has rejected every U.S. shipment.

The 10 percent of American beef shipped overseas tends to be some of the best cuts. Yet Koreans have turned down 22 tons of U.S. meat for having pea-size bone chips. They only accept beef that’s completely boneless.

“There ought to be an economic consequence to South Korea taking the stance it has,” said Moran, a Republican.

He said leaving free-trade talks wouldn’t affect domestic ranchers and meatpackers much. They’re already being closed out of the market, Moran said.

“I don’t think our beef producers have anything to lose,” Moran said.

Since June, the U.S. and South Korea have been in trade talks. The next round is set for Jan. 15. The talks must end by March so Congress can have a 90-day review period before President Bush loses his “fast-track” authority.

Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., also wants the U.S. to cease trade talks.

In a recent letter to Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns and U.S. trade representative Susan Schwab, Roberts called the trading environment with South Korea “uneven and dishonest.”

South Korea used to be the second-biggest foreign customer for U.S. beef, behind Japan. It meant $814 million worth of beef sales in 2003.

Then, that same year, the United States reported its first case of mad cow disease, and both Japan and South Korea stopped their beef dealings.