Betraying a Friend

By Henry M. Seggerman

No one can underestimate the importance of South Korea as a key ally and trading partner to the United States. Nevertheless, the Obama administration appears on the verge of alienating South Korea by walking away from the free trade agreement the two countries signed off on many months ago.

Obama, in his campaign, predictably appealed to baser protectionist voter emotions by calling the Korea deal and other free trade agreements ``unfair'' ― even threatening to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

One hoped Obama's more private, and now well-known, ``bitter'' comments (``… they get bitter, they cling to … anti-immigrant or anti-trade sentiment …'') would suggest a more moderate eventual trade policy on the ground after Jan. 20.

But that hope is now fading fast with U.S. Trade Representative nominee Ron Kirk's claim last week that the Korea deal ``simply isn't fair'' and that the administration is ``prepared to step away.''

There is tangible momentum toward ratification right now in South Korea. The deal has strong support from the ruling grand National Party (GNP) and was originally crafted by politicians now in the opposition party.

The deal took many months to negotiate, and any push for renegotiation on the part of the United States would certainly kill the deal in Korea.

Importing U.S. beef into Korea may seem like a small thing to Americans, but after South Korean President Lee Myung-bak allowed it, he resolutely faced down hostile protectionist street mobs, cashing in nearly all the political capital from his December 2007 election, in the process.