Locke to lead delegation to promote Korea FTAs passage

WASHINGTON (Yonhap) -- U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke will lead a bipartisan congressional delegation to Seoul next week to build support for the ratification of the pending free trade deal with South Korea, the Commerce Department said Friday.

During the three-day visit from Wednesday, the delegation will meet with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan and other officials to "discuss the benefits of KORUS for both the U.S. and Korea," the statement said, referring to the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement.

The visit comes as the Obama administration prepares to present the Korea FTA to Congress for deliberation. Some congressional Republicans threaten to block President Obama's nomination for Locke's replacement unless Obama sends to Congress the Korea FTA together with similar deals with Colombia and Panama. Locke has been appointed U.S. ambassador to China.

U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk expressed hope Wednesday that Congress will begin deliberating the Korea FTA early next month when the Easter recess ends. He has said the Korea FTA will be sent to Congress separately from deals with Panama and Colombia.

Kirk has urged Congress to approve the Korea deal "this spring" so as not to lag behind the EU, which ratified a similar deal with Seoul set to take effect on July 1.

The delegation will visit the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas to "reaffirm U.S. commitment to Korea as a critical ally in the region and underscore KORUS as key to bolstering the economic pillar of the United States' strategic partnership with Korea," the statement said. "The delegation will also have lunch with U.S. troops and their families to show appreciation for their service and sacrifice."