Negotiators of South Korea and the United States Monday wrapped
up their eighth round of free trade agreement (FTA) talks, saying a
final deal is "within grasp".
"Based on the progress we have made this week, I firmly believe
that an agreement that creates mutually-lasting benefits for both
countries is within our grasp," Wendy Cutler, the top US negotiator
for the bilateral FTA talks, told reporters.
"The US is committed to completing this agreement by the end of
March," Wendy said.
"Unprecedented progress we have made this week in the eighth and
final round gives me increasing confidence that we can do this."
Cutler's South Korean counterpart, Kim Jong-hoon expressed his
optimism to the reporters, adding that "the conclusion of FTA
negotiations is in sight."
"Groundwork has been laid for both sides to strike a deal in
time," the official stressed.
Following the negotiation, both sides confirmed that there will
be no more formal round of talks in the run-up to the deadline. The
two sides will hold a series of informal meetings in Washington in
the coming weeks to clear remaining problems, said South Korean
officials.
According to South Korea's Yonhap News Agency, gaps still remain
in autos and some sensitive agricultural products.
South Korea and the United States launched their FTA talks in
June last year.
During the latest FTA talks in Seoul, thousands of protesters
had staged series of demonstrations to express their strong
opposition against the FTA deal.
(Xinhua News Agency March 13, 2007)
