Opposition party’s blockade of FTA
Dong-A-Ilbo, Korea
Opposition partys blockade of FTA}}
25 June 2011
The ruling Grand National Party, the main opposition Democratic Party, and the administration held their first consultation meeting on the proposed ratification of the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement. At the meeting, Democratic Party Rep. Kim Dong-cheol said the Lee Myung-bak administration’s renegotiation on automobiles hurt the balance of interests between the two countries, suggesting that his party will oppose ratification.
The renegotiation did result in Korea easing certain safety and environmental standards to help American automakers get easier access to the Korean market. It is unlikely, however, that American cars will rapidly increase their share of the Korean market given that the U.S. is strong in large cars and that Korean consumers prefer German or Japanese models when buying large cars.
Even if American-made large cars sell more in the Korean market, the increased sales should be compared with Korea’s gains. As a result of the renegotiation, the U.S. will remove tariffs of 1.3 to 10.2 percent on Korean cars immediately after the agreement takes effect. The Korean Knowledge Economy Ministry estimates that the renegotiation for the automotive sector will raise Korean car exports to the world’s largest market by 810 million dollars.
The Korean Automobile Manufacturers Association and the Korean Auto Industries Cooperative Association ran an ad Friday saying the domestic auto industry looks forward to the agreements ratification. The Korean auto parts industry stressed that the immediate lifting of U.S. tariffs will increase exports by some 5,000 small and mid-sized parts makers that employ a combined 300,000 people. If the Democratic Party blocks ratification, its slogan of being favor of low-income people and small companies will become a lie.
Signed under the leadership of President Roh Moo-hyun in 2007, the accord is considered one of the Roh administration’s greatest achievements. The Democratic Party has stressed that it will inherit Roh’s legacy at every opportunity. Party chairman Sohn Hak-kyu also made this pledge when he visited the late Roh’s hometown. The Democratic Party’s opposition to ratification under the excuse of the results of the renegotiation will be merely considered its political use of the issue to stand against the Lee administration.
Otherwise, the opposition party has no reason for opposing the renegotiation results, which have been welcomed by the Korean auto industry and produced numerous potential gains for the domestic livestock sector. The party’s opposition itself runs counter to its call for reinvigorating the peoples economy by increasing exports, investment and jobs. Sohn and other leading members of the Democratic Party have always pledged to "bet everything” on improving the people’s livelihood. Yet there is no other way but to see the party as trying to defend its own political interests at the expense of the people.
The opposition party should contribute to improving the people’s lot by cooperating in the agreements ratification and the legislative processes following effectuation. The party should then claim credit for the deal. That is what an alternative party should do.
