South Korea – South Korea's top buy and sell official defended a hard-fought concession with the United States to salvage stalled free trade conformity, rejecting accusation that his government gave up too much to seal the deal.
Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon and U.S. Trade envoy Ron Kirk reached a final agreement Friday after four days of discussions focusing on U.S. demands that South Korea revise the agreement to address its big trade extra in automobile.
The South Korea-U.S. free trade accord was originally signed in June 2007, but steps to endorse it stalled amid changes in government in countries, the global financial crisis and American demands that South Korea take steps to decrease their disparity in auto trade and ease limitations on imports of American grumble.
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