hankyoreh

At a press conference on April 24, a report announced by a research team of the civic group Korean Alliance Against the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement (FTA) - which was signed on April 2 - said that the United States accomplished 77 percent of its demands, compared to Korea’s 8 percent.

Such an evaluation came after reviewing government data submitted to the National Assembly and press releases issued by the government after concluding the negotiations.

According to the report, results of 83 out of 88 issues have been confirmed and 64 issues, or 77 percent of the U.S. proposals, were accepted, compared to seven, or 8 percent, of the proposals raised by South Korea. In case of 12 items, or 14 percent, Korea and the U.S. reached a compromise. If areas including intellectual property rights, medical supplies, and investment are more specifically itemized, 89 items, or 82 percent out of 108 U.S. demands, were accomplished, compared to 12 items, or 11 percent, out of South Korea’s demands.

The report stated that in the textiles sector, which the government has called a section in which South Korea benefited, Seoul in fact achieved only a tariff elimination, whereas Washington realized its demands regarding country of origin, safeguards, and customs cooperation. In the automobile sector, as well, the U.S. won most of its proposals, including auto taxation changes and easing of environmental standards in Korea, save for its demands to keep U.S. customs on Korean cars.

Items in Korea’s favor included the realization of its requests for an application of adjusted tariffs for marine products, special safeguards for agricultural products, and temporary financial safeguards.

Lee Hae-yeong, an official of the anti-FTA alliance, said, "Even if there will be an increase in production in the manufactured goods sector, it will be minor compared to profit reduction for agricultural products, medical supplies, intellectual property, and the service industry. In addition, domestic consumers will have to bear the financial burden caused by higher medical fees and the restructuring of declining industries, among others."

Such an evaluation of the FTA will likely raise controversy because it is markedly different from that of the government. The government has maintained that the nation gained much from the FTA: through the Internet site of the presidential office, the government said on April 10 that Korea achieved on 35 items in the deal, while the U.S. 28.

The anti-FTA alliance said in a statement: "President Roh Moo-hyun said that he will disclose all the related data after the negotiations and will discuss the matter with critics. To help people’s understanding of the negotiation results, we should hold on-air debates through the three major television broadcasting companies," The alliance went on to urge the government to disclose the FTA agreement draft to experts that would take part in the television debates in advance.

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