SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea and the United States held talks Monday in a bid to breathe new life into a free- trade agreement that has languished unratified for more than three years as Washington pushes for greater market access for its cars and beef.
The meeting between South Korean Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk came as President Barack Obama and his South Korean counterpart, Lee Myung-bak, aim for a resolution in time for their meeting on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in Seoul that starts Thursday.
The countries reached the agreement to slash tariffs and other barriers to trade in April 2007 after 10 months of tough negotiations. They signed the deal three months later, but it remains unratified by lawmakers in both capitals.
Obama said in June that he wanted the deal wrapped up so he can submit it to Congress for approval within a “few months” after his visit to Seoul. South Korea’s National Assembly must also ratify the agreement for it to take effect.
“Negotiations are still underway, and the situation is fluid,” Kim told reporters. He said the two sides planned to meet again today.
Kirk did not meet with reporters. His office later issued a brief statement saying the talks would continue today.
The U.S. has said the South Korean deal cannot go forward without addressing Seoul’s overwhelming surplus in auto trade and improving access for imports of American beef.
