S. Korea-Chile FTA boosts trade volume fourfold

SEOUL, March 25 (Yonhap) -- Trade volume between South Korea and Chile nearly
quadrupled five years after the countries sealed a free trade pact, the Trade
Ministry said Wednesday.
The two countries signed the trade pact, Seoul's first-ever free trade agreement,
in early 2003 and put it into effect a year later.
Trade volume between the two countries reached US$7.16 billion between April last
year and March this year, compared with $1.85 billion recorded in 2003, according
to the ministry.
South Korea's exports to the South American country increased to $3 billion from
$500 million over the cited period, while imports from Chile rose to $4.1 billion
from $1.3 billion, it said.
Exports of autos, auto parts and steel increased sharply, while imports of copper
and pork also rose, it said.
South Korea's share in Chile's import market stood at 5.6 percent last year,
compared with 3.1 percent in 2003, according to the ministry.
sam@yna.co.kr
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