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The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) reaffirmed Friday its plans to officially sign a free trade agreement (FTA) with South Korea on June 30.

Sean Spicer, USTR's spokesman, said the United States intends to ink it in Washington by that date, which is the end of the 90-day period for congressional review of the proposed trade pact.

South Korea and the U.S. released on Thursday a draft text of the FTA that was negotiated last month, one of the steps prior to an officially signing by the presidents. A conclusive text is expected sometime next month.

A public hearing is scheduled late next month as well.

A Republican congressman from New York, Vito Fossella, was the first legislator to welcome the release, calling it the first opportunity for the public to look at the details for themselves.

"This agreement will help solidify our competitive presence in Asia and strengthen our partnership with one of the world's fastest growing and most dynamic economies," he said in a statement.

"An FTA will help spur economic growth, create new jobs and remove restrictive barriers that prevented American businesses from having full access to the marketplace."

WASHINGTON, May 25 (Yonhap News)