InfoAnda - South Korean trade minister defends deal with US

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

China dismisses US espionage report as misleading | 21 November 2008
IBM, Vodafone extend India outsourcing deal for up to $1 billion | | 8 September 2011
Jolie urges Thailand to welcome Muslim refugees | Entertainment | | 6 February 2009

FIFA reaches N.Korea World Cup broadcast deal: report | 15 June 2010

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : South Korean trade minister defends deal with US

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 Singapore Asia Pacific World South Korean trade minister defends deal with US By KELLY OLSEN,AP Business Writer - Sunday, December 5 Send IM Story Print SEOUL, South Korea – South Korea's top trade official on Sunday defended a hard-fought compromise with the United States to salvage a stalled free trade agreement, rejecting accusations that his government gave up too much to seal the deal. Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk reached a final agreement Friday after four days of negotiations focusing on U.S. demands that South Korea rework the accord to address its big trade surplus in automobiles. The South Korea-U.S. free trade agreement was originally signed in June 2007, but steps to ratify it stalled amid changes in government in both countries, the global financial crisis and American demands that South Korea take steps to reduce their imbalance in auto trade and ease restrictions on imports of American beef. South Korea, which long said it would not budge on the initial deal, ultimately compromised and addressed key U.S. concerns on cars, though it also received benefits in return such as a two-year delay in the elimination of its tariffs on American pork. Beef was not included in the deal. "I cannot agree with some views that (the agreement was the result) of our unilateral concession," Kim, the trade minister, told reporters Sunday, calling it a "win-win" deal. Kim returned to South Korea on Saturday after participating in the talks near Washington. Before becoming trade minister he was South Korea's chief negotiator for the original agreement. The pact, which requires approval by the U.S. Congress and South Korea's National Assembly, is the largest for the U.S. since the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico in 1994. Among key provisions of the revised deal, Seoul would allow the U.S. to lift a 2.5 percent tariff on South Korean passenger cars four years after the agreement takes effect, instead of immediately. South Korea, meanwhile, would halve its tariff on U.S. cars to 4 percent from 8 percent and eliminate it after four years. Also, each U.S. automaker would be able to export up to 25,000 cars to South Korea as long as they meet U.S. safety standards. Disputes over safety standards had stood as a barrier to U.S. auto exports to South Korea. The Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association welcomed the agreement, saying it eliminated uncertainties in the U.S. market and that South Korean automakers were forecast to increase their market share, Yonhap news agency reported. The new agreement, however, does not address South Korean restrictions on American beef. The U.S. has sought greater access to the market in South Korea, which imposes controls on shipments of U.S. meat from older animals over fears of mad cow disease. The renewed push to move the deal forward came after talks last month in Seoul between President Barack Obama and his South Korean counterpart Lee Myung-bak failed to achieve a breakthrough. Last week's negotiations also took place after a deadly North Korean artillery barrage on a small South Korean island, though Kim said the attack did not affect the talks and that he engaged in them completely from an economic point of view. Since negotiations for the ambitious deal began in 2006, both countries have touted it as good for their economies but also as a way to solidify their six-decade political and security relationship. Kim emphasized that again Sunday, saying if the agreement is ratified smoothly it will "lay a good foundation for strengthening overall relations between the two countries." Hours before Kim spoke in Seoul, Obama praised the deal as a landmark agreement that promises to boost the U.S. auto industry and support tens of thousands of American jobs. "This agreement shows the U.S. is willing to lead and compete in the global economy," he told reporters Saturday at the White House, calling it a triumph for American workers. The breakthrough can be seen as an achievement for Obama, who has drawn criticism over the slow U.S. economic recovery and stubbornly high unemployment rate. He had long criticized the original deal as being bad for the U.S. South Korea's president, meanwhile, has drawn flak at home for an allegedly weak and indecisive response to the North Korean artillery attack. His government has come under further scrutiny over the trade deal, with opposition parties seeing it as a capitulation to Washington. Lee Chun-seok, spokesman for the main opposition Democratic Party, accused the government of making "massive concessions against our national interests," his party said. "We cannot find the principle of reciprocity anywhere in the agreement." Kang Ki-kab, a legislator with the small Democratic Labor Party, said the deal highlights South Korea's "diplomacy of submission to America." Protesters, including Kang and other opposition lawmakers, shouted slogans and held up signs Sunday in central Seoul criticizing the president and his policies. Police said the crowd numbered about 2,200 and the protest was peaceful. ___ Associated Press writers Hyung-jin Kim in Seoul and Erica Werner, Julie Pace and Ken Thomas in Washington contributed to this report. Recommend Send IM Story Print Related Articles Ancient relics will delay huge Afghan copper mine Reuters - 17 minutes ago Israeli cable firm HOT gets ISP license, refinances Reuters - 25 minutes ago BAY STREET-Oil plays to drive Canada 2011 energy IPO activity Reuters - 30 minutes ago Spain counts the costs of air controller strike Reuters - 44 minutes ago Russia's X5 retailer buys rival Kopeika Reuters - 58 minutes ago 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

USD EUR - 1 year graph	VPN on MacOSX	BlogMeter 1.01