Foreign Ministry denies Brazilian egg imports were decided at summit

The Foreign Ministry issued a statement on the 16th saying imports of Brazilian eggs had never been decided at the summit. It said the two countries' agricultural authorities had been discussing and pursuing the matter separately beforehand to stabilize domestic egg supplies and diversify import sources.

People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok questioned the reasons for the imports, saying Brazil's agriculture minister had announced the opening of the egg market last February as a summit achievement. The Foreign Ministry countered that Brazil had promoted progress in agricultural discussions during the visit to South Korea as an achievement of summit diplomacy, which did not mean the imports had been decided at the summit.

Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon said after meeting the ambassador to Brazil that the ambassador had described the connection to the summit as open to interpretation. Han questioned the economics of the imports, claiming that eggs were purchased for 1,464 won each and sold domestically for 143 won, with taxes covering the difference.

The Foreign Ministry said the ambassador's remarks were intended to explain circumstances including the progress of existing import procedures and Brazil's promotion of the outcome. It denied that the remarks acknowledged a connection between the summit and the imports, and said citing part of the answer to suggest a contradiction with the agriculture minister's explanation misrepresented the full exchange.