S. Korea, Australia to exchange tariff concession lists before Sept.

SEOUL, May 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and Australia have agreed to exchange
tariff concession lists before both sides hold their second round of free trade
negotiations in September, officials here said Friday.
The two countries ended a four-day round of negotiations in Canberra earlier in
the day to discuss key issues such as tariff concessions, service and investment,
the two sides said.
Two-way trade reached US$23.2 billion last year with South Korea posting a
deficit of $12.8 billion, government statistics showed.
South Korea exported $5.2 billion of electronic goods and automobiles to
Australia, while importing $18 billion of crude oil, coal, iron ore and meat last
year.
Currently, South Korea has free trade agreements with Chile, Singapore and the
European Free Trade Association, as well as a partial pact with the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations. Seoul is also seeking similar trade deals with the
United States, Canada, India and Mexico.
sam@yna.co.kr
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