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March 09, 2007
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| As the eighth round of negotiations began yesterday in Seoul, both Korea and the United States said they were optimistic about reaching a settlement this week on the major details. Chief American negotiator Wendy Cutler said yesterday she is confident about reaching a “high-quality” agreement this round. At the same time, Korean officials involved with the talks said this round would be the last “massive round.” However, both sides said it may be impossible to strike an agreement on every single detail this week. “If there are a small number of unresolved issues during the eighth round, both sides will make a final compromise through high-level discussions by the end of March,” Kim Hyun-chong, Korea’s trade minister, said Wednesday in a report to a National Assembly committee. U.S. negotiators have to submit an agreement to Congress by April 2 for a 90-day mandatory review under President George Bush’s trade promotion authority. Congress can only vote yes or no without any amendments while the trade promotion authority is in effect. Imports of American beef, however, still are a looming concern, even though Korea yesterday agreed to only return individual packages of meat found to contain bone shards, not entire shipments. “We just can’t agree with that proposal, given that it’s not based on science and is not commercially feasible,” Ms. Cutler said, insisting that Korea fully open its beef market. “Our Congress continues to make it abundantly clear to us that there will be no FTA without the opening of Korea’s beef market,” she said. The free trade agreement also has to be approved by the Korean National Assembly, but it is expected to pass. Progress was made in some areas yesterday. Both countries agreed to open their law markets on a three-phase process. In the final phase, lawyers could set up joint businesses with lawyers from the other country. Issues on accounting practices were also fixed, but the recognition of licenses for doctors and in other special areas remained unsettled. By Hwang Young-jin Staff Writer[yhwang@joongang.co.kr] |
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