‘Kaesong Complex Agreement Unlikely in FTA Talks’
Korea Times
‘Kaesong Complex Agreement Unlikely in FTA Talks’
By Yoon Ja-young, Staff Reporter
12 September 2006
Many U.S. experts think South Korea and the United States are unlikely to produce an agreement regarding the Kaesong Industrial Complex in North Korea in the free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations, the results of a survey showed yesterday.
According to the survey of 25 American experts by the Korea Economic Institute (KEI), based in the United States, 68 percent said the two countries would not reach an agreement on the inclusion of products produced at the Kaesong Industrial Complex in the free trade talks.
Korea is urging that products from Kaesong in North Korea, being operated by South Korea, should be included as FTA items.
Agriculture was also viewed as one of the sectors where agreement is least likely, with 44 percent of the respondents doubting any gains from the talks.
The survey was conducted between Aug. 10 and Aug. 28, on 14 representatives of trade and business organizations, and interest groups, five from think tanks and policy analysis organizations, and six current or former U.S. government executive and legislative branch officials.
Agriculture was cited as the most probable deal-breaker for the United States, followed by automobiles and the Kaesong Industrial Complex. The respondents said agriculture was the most probable deal-breaker for South Korea as well.
Opinions differed regarding public protests, the walkout by the United States delegation, and the Korean decision to end the second round of talks early during negotiations in Seoul last July. Forty-eight percent said this was a normal part of negotiation, while 44 percent said it reflected more serious differences.
The report also cited a comment by a respondent, who advised that greater public consultation should have taken place prior to the decision to pursue free trade negotiations.
Most of the respondents said Americans have a mostly favorable or very favorable view of South Korea.
