USTR Nominee Hints at Support for Korea FTA

U.S. Trade Representative nominee Ron Kirk Thursday pledged to work closely with South Korea to address U.S. concerns over restricted shipments of U.S. beef and an imbalance in auto trade before bringing the Korea FTA to Congress for ratification.

Kirk, approved by the Senate Finance Committee earlier in the day and awaiting a full Senate confirmation, also said that he is "generally supportive of the Korea FTA" despite "other issues that may need to be addressed," Yonhap News Agency reported quoting a written statement submitted to the committee.

The remarks by the former Dallas mayor appear less critical of the KORUS FTA than comments he made earlier this week at his confirmation hearing, where he blasted the FTA as "unacceptable" and "just not fair."

U.S. President Barack Obama has opposed ratification of what he called a "badly flawed" free trade agreement with South Korea due to the auto trade, although South Korea disputes the U.S. figures which include hundreds of thousands of autos produced by Hyundai Motor's plant in Alabama.

U.S. congressmen have also complained about South Korea's ban on shipments of beef from cattle older than 30 months due to concerns over mad cow disease, a case of which was reported in 2003 at a cattle farm in the state of Washington.

South Korea's National Assembly is also delaying deliberations on the Korea-U.S. FTA, citing growing protectionist sentiments in the Democratic U.S. Congress in the wake of the deepening global economic woes.

South Korean officials have said they will not renegotiate the FTA signed in 2007, while experts suggest "creativity" in addressing shortfalls in side agreements or other forms without revising the agreement itself.

Kirk said in the submitted statement that he will prioritize beef before moving to the auto issue.

"I also need to determine if there is any additional concerns, particularly in relation to U.S. beef," he said. "I will work closely with Agriculture Secretary (Tom) Vilsack to engage with Korea as well as other trading partners to normalize trade in beef in these important markets."