Anchor: South Korea has proposed engaging in “constructive discussions” on the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement(FTA) once the government reorganization is finished. The remarks follow the U.S.’ request to convene a special session on the FTA to discuss concerns over its trade deficit.
Our Kim Soyon has this report.
 
Report: South Korea has suggested holding talks on the U.S.-initiated renegotiations of the bilateral free trade agreement in Seoul soon after its government restructuring is completed.
 
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said on Tuesday that Trade Minister Paik Un-gyu made the proposal in a letter sent to U.S. Trade Representative(USTR) Robert Lighthizer.
 
In the letter, the minister said that the Seoul government is aware of Washington's concerns over its trade deficit in goods with Korea and is "willing to engage in constructive discussions on ways to foster an expanded and balanced bilateral economic and trade relationship."
 
Paik added that regarding Washington’s request to convene a special session of the Joint Committee under the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement(KORUS FTA), Korea agrees to hold the requested Joint Committee in accordance with the due procedures set in the agreement.
 
The minister suggested the session be convened at an appropriate time in the near future when Seoul's government reorganization is completed, pointing out that Korea is still in the process of establishing a trade bureau under the ministry and appointing a new minister in charge of trade negotiations.
 
The ministry also suggested that the joint committee discuss how to objectively examine, analyze and assess the effects of the KORUS FTA since its enforcement.
 
Regarding the venue, Paik proposed that the session be held in Seoul, saying that Seoul should be given first consideration as stipulated in the KORUS FTA.
 
On July 12th, the USTR proposed a Joint Committee session be held in Washington in August to review the possibility of revising the FTA in order to address the issue of imbalanced trade between the two countries.
Kim Soyon, KBS World Radio News.