The Peterson Institute, the most influential nonpartisan think tank dedicated to international economics, published an excellent work assessing the Korea-U.S Free Trade Agreement. All interested in Kor-US FTA should read this report.
The summary of the report notes:
The Korea-United States Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) opens up substantial new opportunities for bilateral trade and investment in goods and services and promotes important foreign policy interests of both countries.
The FTA quickly removes most tariff barriers to auto trade and substantially reduces tax and regulatory burdens that impede sales of US cars in Korea; improves access to the Korean market for a wide range of US farm products; and opens up the Korean services market in key areas such as financial services, insurance, express delivery, and legal and accounting services. onetheless the ratification of the KORUS FTA has been controversial.
In the United States attention has focused on both the auto sector, which accounts for almost one-quarter of bilateral trade and a large share of the US trade deficit with Korea, and Korean restrictions on US beef imports due to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) concerns. Several automakers and auto unions have opposed the deal, and the Democratic leadership in the US House of Representatives has demanded that the auto provisions be recast.
In the US Senate, the resolution of the beef problem-which is now being addressed by Korean regulators-is a prerequisite to passage of implementing legislation. No clear timetable exists for the congressional vote and action may be deferred until 2008.
The Bush administration will have to respond constructively to Democratic concerns about the FTA before the deal can be ratified and should consider new federal programs to help promote the competitiveness of US automakers. Doing so should attract a substantial minority of Democrats in the House, along with the majority of Republicans, to support the FTA.
The stakes-in terms of both US economic and security interests in East Asia-are too great, and the costs too high, to reject the pact or defer a decision.
The complete report can be found HERE.
Similar Posts:
- KORUS FTA: Impacts on Trade & Investment for Korea and the States (Guest Post by NerdWallet Journalist)
- Korea’s Free Trade Agreement with Canada: Will it Pass?
- South Korea Suspends Canadian Beef Imports over Mad Cow Disease Concerns
- Korean Franchisors’ Obligations in Korea to File Annual Report to Korean FTC
- Opportunities for Australian and New Zealand Business in Korea
- Barriers to Trade in the Korean Franchising Industry
- Korea Legal News for the Week of June 9, 2013
- Drafting of Korean Distribution Agreements for your Distributor in Korea.
- South Korea Begins 7th Round of Negotiations with China on Free Trade Agreement
- Korea inks FTA with China
You must log in to post a comment.