By Kang Seung-woo
The timetable of further talks aimed at resolving pending issues such as the auto and beef trade to gain endorsement of a free trade agreement (FTA) has yet to be set, a government official said Wednesday.
“A specific date for additional discussions between Korea and the United States has not been finalized yet. We will fix a date soon after talking with Washington,” Ahn Ho-young, deputy minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said in a weekly press briefing.
“It is not a meeting that can take place anytime, and it may take some time, as we are aware that both sides were still poles apart from the first discussion and we need to narrow gaps in opinions beforehand.” The briefing came a week after Korea changed its stance of no revisions and decided to be more forthcoming in accommodating U.S. demands
Korean and the United States failed to reach a compromise on the auto and beef trade on Nov. 11. when the G20 Seoul Summit was underway, although President Lee Myung-bak and U.S. President Barack Obama had earlier set a deadline for resolving the remaining issues by the meeting of the heads of 20 advanced and emerging economies. Although it is not part of the FTA deal, the U.S. has insisted that Korea further open up its beef market.
The auto trade will be the main issue, Ahn said.
“As we have said all the while, the talks will center on autos and we are gearing up to close the gap in stances regarding safety and environmental standards.”
While both sides were in talks in Seoul, Korea said the United States raised concerns that Korea’s automobile safety and other standards act as a trade barrier to American-made automobiles. Washington is calling on Korea to ease standards on fuel economy and gas emissions.
Regarding automotive fuel efficiency, Korea came up with a plan last year for tougher efficiency standards than those of the United States for vehicles, requiring that all manufacturers produce cars that average at least 16.7 kilometers per liter of gasoline starting from 2015.
The U.S. side reportedly demanded scrapping or limiting so-called duty drawbacks, which allow refunds for tariffs levied on imported parts used by auto makers.
The two countries’ heads agreed to hold further talks to resolve the outstanding issues in the near future, but Ahn said that content is more important than an early agreement.
“Fixing a deadline is not favorable. If the accords are signed as soon as possible, it will be fine, but we need to focus on what is to be included in the accord rather than setting a deadline,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affair and Trade (MOFAT) said that China, Japan and Korea will hold a third joint study on a possible FTA between them.
The meeting is scheduled to be held in Weihai, China on Dec. 1.