S Korean farmers denounce FTA with US
Associated Press
S. Korean Farmers Denounce FTA With U.S.
By Kelly Olsen
20 June 2007
Thousands of South Korean farmers rallied Wednesday to denounce a free trade agreement with the United States, as officials from the two sides prepared to discuss amending the hard fought deal ahead of its expected signing later this month.
"We demand the annulment of the FTA agreement and that legislative ratification be stopped," said Han Min-soo, a spokesman for the 120,000-member Korea Advanced Farmers Federation, which sponsored the rally in front of Seoul City Hall.
Police said about 8,000 people participated in the protest. Han said organizers had expected 20,000 would attend.
The protesters, some wearing red headbands with anti-free trade slogans written on them, chanted peacefully before dipersing to march through central Seoul.
Washington and Seoul forged their deal in early April, concluding 10 months of often tense negotiations to cut tariffs and trade barriers on a wide range of industries and services.
Both sides said the accord will boost growth, but certain constituencies, such as farmers in South Korea and labor groups in the U.S., have opposed it.
Although the deal excluded rice - a key Korean crop - farmers are worried that other kinds of U.S. agricultural produce will pour into the country, threatening their livelihoods.
Street demonstrations persisted throughout the negotiating sessions held in Seoul in the run-up to the agreement. One man died from complications after setting himself on fire in protest.
Still, public opinion polls taken after the deal was reached showed a majority of South Koreans in favor of the deal, and the popularity rating of president Roh Moo-hyun, who staunchly advocated the deal, jumped from record lows.
The deal is the largest for the U.S. since the North American Free Trade Agreement more than a decade ago, and the largest ever for South Korea.
Washington, however, has asked Seoul to amend the deal to reflect new U.S. guidelines forged by congressional leaders and the White House calling for stricter labor and environmental standards.
The new guidelines elevating labor and environmental rights as key issues in future and pending free trade agreements were adopted last month.
South Korea, which initially said changes were impossible, said Tuesday the two sides would meet this week to discuss the U.S. request for amendments in seven sectors.
A U.S. delegation was due to arrive in Seoul for talks on Thursday and Friday, according to South Korea’s finance and foreign ministries.
Foreign Minister Song Min-soon told reporters Wednesday that South Korea was reviewing U.S. proposals.
"The government will make consistent efforts to maintain the balance of the outcome of the negotiations" concluded in April, he said.
The two sides need to sign a final form of the deal by the end of the month in order for it to be considered by Congress under President George W. Bush’s expiring special trade powers that prevent legislators from making any changes before voting on it.
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Associated Press Writers Jae-Soon Chnag and Hyun-ah Kim in Seoul contributed to this report.
