South Korea is reopening its market to beef imports from the United States. The announcement resolves a key dispute that has been threatening to undermine a wider free trade agreement between the two allies. This report from John Sudworth:

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All imports were banned five years ago after mad cow disease was discovered in the United States. Politicians there have been demanding the reopening of the market, saying that ratification of the free trade agreement with South Korea depends on it.

It is perhaps no coincidence that the announcement comes at the same time as the South Korean and US Presidents are holding a summit meeting at Camp David. But South Korean farmers will be furious. They claim that lifting the ban will threaten their livelihoods.

John Sudworth, BBC News, Seoul

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paves the way for
gives the opportunity/chance to do or achieve something; makes it possible to do or achieve something

resumption of a trade
when buying and selling starts again after a pause

cattle
cows and bulls

shipped
transported, delivered

mad cow disease
a disease (also known as BSE - bovine spongiform encephalopathy) that affects the nervous system of cattle and is believed to be related to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans

It is perhaps no coincidence
it has probably been planned

a summit meeting
a meeting/talks at the highest level

furious
very angry

lifting the ban
here, allowing beef imports from the US again

threaten their livelihoods
make it difficult for them to make a living by lessening/reducing the amounts of money they earn

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