Seoul says Korea-U.S. FTA must be ratified 'as is'

SEOUL, March 10 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's presidential office Tuesday called for
Washington's early ratification of the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement (FTA)
without any further delay, just hours after the nominee for the top U.S. trade
negotiator said the deal needs to be reneogotiated.
Kim Eun-hye, a spokeswoman for the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae, said the
ratification of the FTA "as it is" will be most beneficial to both countries.
"We will actively explain to the U.S. side that the current Korea-U.S. FTA
equally works to the benefit of both countries and that it will be beneficial to
both under the current economic difficulties to put the FTA into effect at the
earliest date possible," she told a daily press briefing.
Ron Kirk, the nominee for U.S. Trade Representative, said in his confirmation
hearing that the current deal with Seoul "simply isn't acceptable" to the U.S.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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