Kirk approved by Senate as top U.S. trade negotiator

By Hwang Doo-hyong
WASHINGTON, March 18 (Yonhap) -- U.S. trade representative nominee Ron Kirk was
approved by the full Senate Wednesday.
The confirmation of the former Dallas mayor by a vote of 92-5 comes one week
after he was approved by the Senate Finance Committee soon after a confirmation
hearing.

Kirk told the hearing he will work closely with South Korea to address U.S.
concerns over restricted shipments of U.S. beef and an imbalance in auto trade
before bringing the free trade agreement with South Korea to Congress for
ratification.
He blasted the proposed trade pact with South Korea as "unacceptable" and "just
not fair," although he later toned it down by saying that he is "generally
supportive of the Korea FTA" despite "other issues that may need to be
addressed."
U.S. President Barack Obama has opposed ratification of what he called a "badly
flawed" free trade agreement with South Korea because of auto trade issues,
although South Korea disputes the U.S. vehicle import figures, which include
hundreds of thousands of autos produced by Hyundai Motor's plant in Alabama.
South Korean officials have said they will not renegotiate the FTA signed in
2007, while experts suggest "creativity" in addressing shortfalls in side
agreements or other forms without revising the agreement itself.
South Korea's National Assembly is also delaying deliberations on the trade pact,
citing growing protectionist sentiments in the Democratic U.S. Congress amid the
deepening global economic woes.
Kirk said he will "determine if there are any additional concerns, particularly
in relation to U.S. beef" before moving to address the auto issue, adding, "We
are well aware of the concerns with the auto provisions."
Some U.S. congressmen have complained about South Korea's ban on shipments of
beef from cattle older than 30 months due to concerns over mad cow disease, a
case of which was reported in 2003 at a cattle farm in the state of Washington.
Seoul and Washington agreed to limit shipments of beef to those from cattle less
than 30 months old, after the resumption of U.S. beef imports last summer caused
a public outcry in South Korea over health concerns.
hdh@yna.co.kr
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