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

(ATTN: UPDATES with additional remarks, details)
By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, March 10 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's presidential office called Tuesday for
Washington to ratify the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement (FTA) without further
delay, hours after the nominee for top U.S. trade negotiator said the deal needs
to be renegotiated.
Kim Eun-hye, a spokeswoman for the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae, said
ratification of the FTA "as it is" would 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.
The bilateral deal was signed 2007, but both Seoul and Washington have been
unable to pass it through their legislatures due to strong domestic opposition.
U.S. President Barack Obama had also hinted at possible renegotiation of the deal
during his presidential campaign, claiming the agreement could damage his
country's automobile industry.
The U.S. auto industry was one of the first sectors hit by the global financial
crisis due to what many observers have called its lack of competitiveness.
Kim refused to comment directly on Kirk's remarks, noting his view does not yet
represent the official stance of the U.S. administration.
"Once he becomes a U.S. trade representative and is in a position where he can
represent the official stance of the U.S. government, we will then start our
consultation with him accordingly," she said.
The presidential office also called on the National Assembly to quickly ratify
the trade deal, a move it said will pressure the U.S. to act on the bilateral
agreement.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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