By Kim Yon-se
Korea Times Correspondent

WASHINGTON ― House Speaker Nancy Pelosi did not comment on President Lee Myung-bak's request for U.S. Democrats' cooperation for early ratification of the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement (FTA).

In his meeting with members of the House Representative Thursday, Lee asked that the U.S. Congress actively support the ratification of the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement, saying, ``The FTA would be beneficial to both countries.''

Lee also said the FTA would be a crucial landmark for the bilateral relations.
But Pelosi did not respond to whether the House of Representatives, which accounts for the majority of Democrats, will be cooperative with Lee's proposal.

Instead of mentioning the ratification of the FTA, they hinted that Congress will urge the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to request Korea hold renegotiations in the automobile sector.

A participant described the exports and imports of automobiles between the two countries as ``unbalanced.''

The USTR and Korean government have continued to say there will be no renegotiation in sectors agreed upon during the FTA talks between June 2006 and April 2007.

Earlier, the previous Roh Moo-hyun administration held renegotiations in eight sectors, such as labor and environment, last June, though they were dismissed right after the FTA talks were sealed on April 2, 2007.

While many critics say the Democrats' move is a strategy to ratify the accord next year after winning the presidential election this November, in fear of losing votes if they support the ratification, some issue the possibility that the FTA motion will really be rejected.

Even if Congress rejects the FTA, the U.S. is expected to gain in four sectors ― beef, automobiles, screen quotas and pharmaceuticals.

The four sectors were the prerequisite for the United States to launch FTA talks with Korea. Seoul yielded most of the concessions.

The concessions included the ``full'' reopening of the beef market ― which was agreed on Thursday between agriculture officials of the two countries.

Korea promised to import U.S. beef ― regardless of cattle age or bone containment.

kys@koreatimes.co.kr