S. Korea to make quick decision on free trade talks with China
Yonhap News, Korea
S. Korea to make quick decision on free trade talks with China
25 April 2007
SEOUL, April 25 (Yonhap) — South Korea will quickly decide whether or not to launch negotiations for free trade agreements (FTA) with China, Australia and Gulf states, the nation’s top economic policymaker said Wednesday.
"South Korea needs to accelerate its push for FTAs," Finance Minister Kwon O-kyu said in a financial industry conference in central Seoul. "South Korea plans to make a quick and prudent decision on beginning FTA talks with China, Australia, New Zealand, and six nations in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)."
Talks on launching free trade negotiations with key trade partners such as China gained momentum after Seoul reached a deal on an FTA with Washington in early April, promising to knock down tariff and nontariff barriers between them.
