Prime Minister John Key is continuing free trade talks in South Korea in a bid to revive negotiations started last year.

South Korea is our seventh largest trading partner, and the second largest market for New Zealand beef.

Beef has been a sticking point in previous talks, but Beef and Lamb Chairman Mike Petersen, who is with the Prime Minister in Seoul, says Korea has no reason to fear our cattle.

“Agriculture’s still a big issue for the Koreans, they feel threatened by New Zealand farming and what will happen with their industry.

"We’ve been spending a lot of time talking to them basically explaining we don’t compete with their domestic products, mainly with imported products – so their fears are unfounded.”

New Zealand beef to South Korea is currently subject to tariffs of more than 30%.