By Yoon Won-sup
Staff Reporter
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo Tuesday urged the National Assembly to ratify a free trade agreement with the United States as soon as possible.
Presiding over a Cabinet meeting, Han said, ``It is a worrisome situation that lawmakers didn't put the ratification on the agenda for it to be considered by the National Assembly, though the government submitted it two months before.''
Han asked Cabinet ministers for greater efforts toward approving the FTA, and preparing supportive laws and regulations.
Han's direct calls came amid concerns that the hard-won trade deal may not be ratified this year because lawmakers are preoccupied with the Dec. 19 presidential election.
He said many important bills are not duly processed resulting from this year's political agenda, and may continue unratified by the Assembly, since the parliamentary session likely dismisses at the end of November.
``The Korea-U.S. FTA is a key agreement for sustained economic growth,'' Han stressed.
Meanwhile, the pro-government United New Democratic Party said it will not ratify the FTA without taking protective measures for those who may be victimized by the accord.
Rep. Kim Jin-pyo, UNDP chief policymaker, said that the National Assembly should approve bills in support of agriculture and industry first.
Chung Dong-young, UNDP presidential candidate, said, ``The UNDP will not approve the ratification of the Korea-U.S. FTA in the current parliamentary session.''
``We will not approve it once we conclude that there are not enough measures to protect the agricultural and fishing industries,'' Chung added.
The main opposition Grand National Party showed a positive attitude toward the ratification.
Lee Myung-bak, GNP standard-bearer, promised Tuesday that he would do his best to help ratify the deal as early as possible.
``The Korea-U.S. FTA is an unavoidable development and opportunity,'' he said. ``Though some industries may be damaged by the FTA, overall, the nation would definitely benefit from it.''
Ratification requires consent from more than half the lawmakers attending the parliamentary session. As of Tuesday, The UNDP has 140 seats in the 299-member unicameral legislature, while the GNP has 129 seats.