The government said Friday that Trade Minister Kim Hyun-chong will meet with U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab in Washington next Monday to discuss the ongoing bilateral free trade talks.

The trade chiefs will try to narrow differences so that they can seal an FTA by the end of March, allowing U.S. negotiators to submit the deal for congressional approval by April second. That would be the latest that the U.S. Congress can begin a 60-day review before President George W. Bush's so-called "fast-track" Trade Promotion Authority expires on July first.

Minister Kim is expected to negotiate demands and concessions the two sides can afford to make on agriculture and textiles, which are the key issues in a possible package deal.

He will leave Seoul on Saturday and return home on March first. During his trip, he will also meet with U.S. business leaders and try to get together with U.S. lawmakers.

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