Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Obama touts S.Korea trade deal, looks for more
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
Australia
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
Obama touts S.Korea trade deal, looks for more
Reuters - Monday, December 6
Send
IM Story
Print
By Patricia Zengerle and Doug Palmer
WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama vowed at the weekend to work with Republicans and Democrats to pass a free-trade pact with South Korea that he said was a model for future agreements he would seek in Asia and around the world.
U.S. and South Korean negotiators struck a deal on Friday on the long-delayed pact, which was signed in 2007 but had not been ratified for three years because of U.S. auto and beef industry concerns.
The pact was an accomplishment for Obama, who faced an embarrassing setback when negotiators failed to settle their differences before he visited Seoul last month, but it was greeted less positively in South Korea.
"The agreement we're announcing today includes several important improvements and achieves what I believe trade deals must do. It's a win-win for both our countries," Obama told reporters in Washington on Saturday.
A day after the Labor Department reported U.S. unemployment unexpectedly hit a seven-month high of 9.8 percent in November, Obama said the pact would boost annual exports of automobiles, agricultural products and other goods and services by $11 billion and generate 70,000 additional jobs.
South Korean trade minister Kim Jong-hoon denied reports in his country he had made concessions that were not reciprocated.
"By accepting U.S. demands on the auto sector, South Korea may be able to advance the time to raise market share in the U.S. auto market," he told reporters, citing growing local production by South Korean carmakers in the United States.
The revised deal keeps the 2.5 percent U.S. tariff on South Korean cars until the fifth year of implementation, while South Korea will immediately halve its 8 percent tariff on U.S. auto imports.
"Given the trend, having the 2.5 percent tariff for another four years may have a limited impact on our auto sales," Kim said.
Obama said the agreement with South Korea showed the United States was ready to finalise more trade pacts -- business leaders wish two other long-delayed deals, with Panama and Colombia, would also get through Congress.
"I'm especially pleased that this agreement includes groundbreaking protections for workers' rights and for the environment. In this sense, it's an example of the kind of fair trade agreement that I'll continue to work for as president, in Asia and around the world," Obama said.
"This agreement also shows that the United States of America is determined to lead and compete in our global economy," he added.
He also said the agreement shows the strength of Washington's alliance with Seoul. Tensions in the region ratcheted up last month after North Korea attacked the small southern island of Yeonpyeong, killing four people.
BUSINESS SUPPORT, SOME DOUBTS
Business leaders and analysts said free trade could be one area of cooperation between Obama's Democratic administration and Republicans in Congress, who won a majority in the House of Representatives in the November 2 elections, amid voter discontent over the sputtering economy and worries over the U.S. deficit.
Obama said he looked forward to working with Congress and leaders of both parties to approve the pact.
Both the U.S. House and Senate must approve the agreement, and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said he was prepared to work with Obama to win approval. A range of companies and industry groups have spoken out in support, including the United Auto Workers union and Ford Motor Co., which welcomed the changes made to address their concerns about market access provisions of the original deal. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, a Maryland Democrat, also praised the deal.
South Korea's Kim said the deal would take effect by the start of 2012 after parliamentary approval.
South Korea-based Hyundai Motor, the world's fifth-largest carmaker along with affiliate Kia Motors, was the only major carmaker to increase sales in the battered U.S. market last year.
Despite progress on the auto issues, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, a Montana Democrat, said he was "deeply disappointed" the deal did not address South Korea's remaining restriction on beef imports imposed in response to discovery of several cases of mad cow disease in the U.S. cattle herds a number of years ago.
Baucus, whose committee has jurisdiction over trade, said he would reserve judgement while continuing to work with the Obama administration.
Obama said the United States would continue to press for "full access for U.S. beef to the Korean market," but a senior official in the South Korean government said no talks were scheduled on the subject.
"There is no plan to hold additional talks in relation to beef between South Korea and U.S. governments," the unnamed official told Yonhap news agency on Sunday.
Obama has made increasing U.S. exports a focus of his strategy for generating jobs.
" will contribute significantly to achieving my goal of doubling U.S. exports over the next five years. In fact, it's estimated that today's deal alone will increase American economic output by more than our last nine free trade agreements combined," Obama said.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
Hong Kong protesters call for release of Nobel winner AFP - 53 minutes ago
Sarkozy and wife hit tourist trail in India AFP - 1 hour 6 minutes ago
Thai king leaves hospital for 83rd birthday AFP - 2 hours 56 minutes ago
China Internet cafe blast kills 6 and injures 38 Reuters - Monday, December 6
Seven killed in China cybercafe blast AFP - Monday, December 6
News Search
Top Stories
Cancun climate talks enter final stretch
Iran declares nuclear 'self-sufficiency' ahead of talks
Mbeki to mediate I.Coast 'two presidents' standoff
Ireland facing tough annual budget to secure bailout
Ex-fugitive Nadir threatens to sue British police
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
NASA finds new form of life... on Earth
WikiLeaks arrest looms as site fights to stay online
Ex-fugitive Nadir threatens to sue British police
Madrid forces end to air controllers strike
Obama on surprise Afghanistan visit, says US winning war
More Most Viewed »
NASA finds new form of life... on Earth
Pilgrims stone 'devil' as Muslims celebrate Eid
World leaders scramble for funds to save the tiger
US, S.Korea plan war games after N.Korean attack
Obama gets 12 stitches after 'elbow in the lip'
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo!
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Entertainment
Photos
Yahoo! News Network
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Sunday, 5 December 2010 Iran tells Gulf Arabs it is no threat to region
Madrid forces end to air controllers wildcat strike
Deadly Israeli fire rages on despite global aid
|
Deadly Israeli fire rages on despite global aid
Serbs stick with Zimonjic and Troicki for doubles
Greek police find suspected guerrilla arms cache
|
Two killed as plane makes emergency landing in Russia
Gbagbo denounces foreign 'interference' in I.Coast
Iran welcomes talks with world powers
Israel arrests two suspects in deadly fire
Netanyahu and Abbas hold rare phone chat over fires
Kenyan forces kill five Ethiopian rebels
|
Afghan president doubts credibility of US leaked cables
Iran will 'never use' force against Muslim neighbours
Sudan's south rejects bid for delay of January 9 vote
|
Iran pilgrims among 13 dead in Iraq bombings
Al Qaeda planned to kill Saudis with poisoned gifts
Polanski's 'Ghost Writer' top contender at Europe's Oscars
Disney sells Miramax to Qatar-linked group
Google to buy anti-piracy software firm Widevine
|
New Mel Gibson movie finally heads to theaters
|
Suspected Russian spammer denied bond: report
PayPal suspends WikiLeaks donations account
Russian 'spy' found in British parliament
Polls open in Egyptian run-off parliament vote
Cold snap, air strike and floods bring chaos to Europe
Spain reopens airspace after controllers' strike
|
WikiLeaks faces donations blow as it fights for survival
Egypt vote leaves near single-party parliament
Ireland facing tough annual budget to secure bailout
CrowdFlower cultivating office-free work styles
China Internet cafe explosion kills 6, injures 37: report
|
Ex-fugitive Nadir threatens to sue British police
Hosni Mubarak party to sail through boycotted Egypt vote
Deadly Israeli fire rages on despite global aid
|
Madrid forces end to air controllers strike
Spain eyes role in Costa Rica-Nicaragua border spat
US-TECH Summary
Afghan minister disputes US diplomatic cable
Polls open in Egyptian run-off parliament vote
|
Two killed as plane makes emergency landing in Russia
Thabo Mbeki to mediate Ivory Coast poll row
|
Sudan's south rejects bid for delay of January 9 vote
Russian airliner makes emergency landing, 2 dead
|
WikiLeaks boost for Singaporeans
South Korea appoints new defence minister
Outpouring of love as Thais celebrate King's 83rd birthday
Cambodian refugee goes home as US Navy commander
The Sultan and I have no qualms: Indonesian President
Responders head to disabled ship in Bering Sea
Nepal's gentle giants do battle on the polo field
Indonesia creates team to study WikiLeaks cables
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
S.Korea lawmakers call US trade deal 'humiliating'
Aretha Franklin "doing very well" after surgery
Australia Outback could soon get web via TV aerial
Polanski's 'Ghost Writer' steals the show at Europe's Oscars
Pietersen swells England's Ashes lead with double hundred
India's Tata plans hiring spree in Detroit
Luanda's Triennial boosts Angola's nascent art scene
US, key Asian allies to forge strategy on N.Korea
New Mel Gibson movie finally heads to theaters
China's skyscraper boom buoys global industry
Filipino justice head wants to arm lawyers, judges
S.Korea parliament closer to sukuk issues approval
Bangladesh's Grameen Bank denies wrongdoing
Sarkozy pushes defense, nuke cooperation in India
Aretha Franklin doing very well after surgery
|
Human error 'to blame for Russian plane crash'
At least two killed in Afghan suicide blast
Russian spy uncovered in British parliament
|
Hunt for WikiLeaks founder 'politically motivated'
Iran declares nuclear 'self-sufficiency' ahead of talks
Defiant Iran reports nuclear advance before talks
|
Cancun climate talks enter final stretch
Defiant Iran reports nuclear advance before talks
Mbeki to mediate I.Coast 'two presidents' standoff
Suicide attack kills 4 near NATO base in Afghanistan
|
Egyptians vote in run-off after opposition quits
North Korea says South's drills provocative
|
Iran to process its own raw uranium yellowcake
Hong Kong protesters demand China free Nobel winner Liu
|
Bomb blast hits eastern Afghan army base, kills 2
Saudi nabbed 2,000 at Yemen border per day: cable
|
Egyptians vote in run-off after opposition quits
|
Sarkozy and wife hit tourist trail in India
China Internet cafe blast kills 6 and injures 38
Seven killed in China cybercafe blast
Taiwan warned against jailing ex-leader's wife
Tow vessel reaches struggling ship in Bering Sea
Thai king leaves hospital for 83rd birthday
US Navy commander returns to Cambodian roots
Malaysian police fire tear gas on opposition protest
Obama touts S.Korea trade deal, looks for more
WRAPUP 2-Obama touts S.Korea trade deal, looks for more
Malaysia PM launches Anwar attack ahead of polls
Suntory to tie up with SKorea's OB: report
Land disputes hit Indian infrastructure schemes
Vietnam's 'tiger' economy limping: investors
South Korean trade minister defends deal with US
Brazil's Vale says HK shares to start trading
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights