US Hopes for US-SKorea Trade Progress
Associated Press
US Hopes for US-SKorea Trade Progress
By Foster Klug
11 April 2008
WASHINGTON (AP) - The second-ranking U.S. diplomat said Friday he hopes a meeting next week between President Bush and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak will lead to progress on a South Korean-U.S. free trade agreement.
Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte told an East-West Center/U.S. Asia Pacific Council conference that the House of Representatives’ apparent decision not to vote this year on a Colombian free trade agreement was "Colombia specific and did not deal with the question of Korea." He called that a "small consolation" and urged Congress to pass the South Korean deal.
Some analysts believe the lawmakers’ decision to leave a vote on Colombia until the next U.S. administration takes office in January is a troubling sign for other free trade deals. Both Democrats competing for their party’s presidential nomination, Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton, have expressed skepticism about the benefits of free trade agreements. John McCain, the likely Republican nominee, is more supportive.
The main sticking point in the South Korean agreement is a ban by Seoul on American beef. The United States says South Korea must lift the ban for congressional leaders in Washington to back the trade accord, which the two governments signed last year. South Korea was the third-largest foreign market for American beef before it banned imports in December 2003 over the possibility of mad cow disease that authorities believe can be dangerous to humans.
Separately, Negroponte also noted U.S. concern about the human rights situation in Tibet. He said China could defuse violence and anger in Tibet by talking with the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader. He said China has nothing to fear from acknowledging Tibetans’ calls for respect of their culture and religion.
China says recent anti-Chinese protests in Tibet are part of a violent campaign to overthrow Chinese rule and sabotage the Beijing Olympics in August.
China says 22 people were killed in the riots and more than 1,000 detained. The Dalai Lama’s India-based government-in-exile says more than 140 people were killed.
Negroponte also urged China to provide more information about its military goals and huge spending increases to build trust with the United States and reduce suspicion.
