US officials join pessimists about FTA with Korea
Chosun Ilbo | 18 January 2010
U.S. Officials Join Pessimists About FTA with Korea
Senior officials in the U.S. administration, congressmen and staff see nearly no prospect for the ratification of the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement by the U.S. Congress, according to a group of Korean lawmakers just back from the U.S.
The group, which included lawmakers from the Grand National, Democratic and Liberty Forward parties, visited Washington on Jan. 12-15 at the invitation of the Korea Economic Institute. They met senior officials from the U.S. State Department, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and intelligence agencies to discuss issues including the FTA ratification, which has been in limbo since the two governments signed the deal in 2007.
In a press briefing on Friday, GNP lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun said "none" of the administration officials saw a high chance of the FTA being ratified this year. "They told us that it would be impossible for the FTA bill to be ratified before the midterm elections in November."
Son Beom-gyu, also of the GNP, said, "We heard that there is strong opposition to the bill from industries including carmakers and congressmen who believe industries or districts they represent would be disadvantaged by the FTA." But he said U.S. government officials were "sensitive" to calls for urgency given that an FTA with the EU is likely to be ratified in Korea this year.
