South Korea's presidential office urged Washington on the prompt ratification of the South Korea- United States free trade agreement (FTA) on Tuesday.
Kim Eun-hye, a spokeswoman for the South Korean presidential office, highlighted that the ratification of the FTA "as it is" would be the best choice for both countries.
"We will actively explain to the U.S. that the current South Korea-U.S. FTA equally works for the benefit of both sides and that it will be beneficial to both under the current economic difficulties to put the FTA into effect as soon as possible," she told a daily press briefing.
The remark came as Ron Kirk, the nominee for U.S. trade representative, said earlier in his confirmation hearing that the current South Korea-U.S. FTA "simply isn't acceptable" to the U.S. side.
He was echoing Obama's stance expressed in the election campaign that he does not approve the status-quo South Korea FTA due to issues of auto industry and beef.
During his presidential election, Obama claimed that the agreement with South Korea could damage his country's automobile industry due to lack in the country's competitiveness.
Kirk also sympathized with the U.S. senate on the beef issue in that South Korea must accept all American beef from cattle of all ages to pass the trade agreement through.
Although Kim refused to directly comment on Kirk's remarks as he is yet to represent the official view of the U.S. administration, she said the South Korean government would start its consultation with Kirk as soon as he is officially anointed as U.S. trade representative.
Since the South Korea-U.S. FTA was reached in 2007, both parties have gone through harsh domestic opposition, which also resulted in difficulties in obtaining ratification from both legislatures.
South Korea's ruling Grand National Party (GNP) tried to push the Korea-U.S. FTA bill through the parliamentary committee last week, but was hindered by the main opposition Democratic Party.
The presidential office and the GNP also requested the National Assembly earlier Tuesday to quickly wrap up the ratification process in order to pressure the U.S. to act on the trade deal.
(Xinhua News Agency March 10, 2009)