U.S. ambassador urges patience over FTA

SEOUL, March 16 (Yonhap) -- U.S. ambassador to South Korea Kathleen Stephens
urged Seoul to show patience over the ratification of a bilateral free trade
agreement (FTA), saying the new U.S. administration needs time to review it.
South Korea has to give the Obama administration time to think over the FTA,
which was signed in June 2007 by Seoul and Washington, Stephens told a meeting
hosted by the Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI).
The U.S. ambassador also pointed that the delay in ratification of the FTA by the
U.S. Congress stems from the global economic crisis, a change in U.S.
administration and turbulence in the U.S. auto industry.
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak aims to win quick approval of the pact at
home, hoping it will put pressure on Washington to follow suit.
In addition, the ruling party Grand National Party, which holds a majority 172
seats in the 299-seat, single-chamber National Assembly, is pushing to vote on
the deal independent of developments in the U.S.
ksnam@yna.co.kr
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