S.Korea says differences over free trade with US

SEOUL (Reuters) – The first draft statements of a free
trade agreement exchanged by South Korea and the United States
show “considerable differences” between the two sides, an
agriculture ministry official said.

Negotiators from South Korea and the United States are
scheduled to meet on June 5 in Washington for the first round
of free trade talks.

The two sides will face sensitive issues such as South
Korea’s barriers to its service sector and rice market, as well
as U.S. textile tariffs and anti-dumping policies.

“Seoul and Washington exchanged the first draft statements
last weekend. They showed considerable differences,” Lee
Myung-soo, vice minister at the agriculture ministry, told a
news briefing.

He did not elaborate but said the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and Trade will release details of the drafts early next
month.

Lee affirmed South Korea’s stance on rice imports, however.

“We will stick to our principle of not giving up the rice
market in the free trade talks with the U.S.,” he said.

Analysts have said agriculture will be one of the toughest
issues to negotiate in a trade deal, especially because of
intense opposition from South Korean farmers.

A South Korean group consisting of members of various labor
and farmers’ organizations is planning to stage rallies in
Washington from June 4 to 10.

South Korean farmers and activists have staged many violent
protests against measures to open up the local farm market,
most notably at the World Trade Organization meeting in Hong
Kong in December.