Arirang | 17 March 2010

Official signing of Korea-EU FTA to be postponed to May

The official signing of the bilateral trade deal between Korea and the European Union initialed in October is expected to be postponed until May.

This is a month later than previous announced by Korea’s trade ministry.

Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon reportedly said from Brussels, Belgium that this is due to a prolonged translation procedure by the EU.

But he added that this does not mean any changes will be made in the substance of the pact and that it will be provisionally implemented by October as previously forecast.

However continued opposition is expected especially from the auto industry.

After his three-day stay in Brussels the minister will visit Ankara, Turkey to begin discussions on a possible FTA.