Our World

Rice Could Doom Trade Deal

A proposed free-trade deal between the US and South Korea could be doomed if Washington puts rice on the negotiating table. The US has been pushing for parceling rice and other sensitive products into a free-trade agreement. It is said though that Seoul cannot include rice in the KORUS deal. Even if the US can find an agreement it is unlikely that South Korea would accept the deal. Current US rice imports would not hurt South Koreas overall production. The current trade with South Korea totals $72 billion annually and if this trade deal goes through it could boost it even more. After a meeting in Seattle last month it doesn't look likely.

I personally think that it would be good if this free-trade deal would go through and take place, but it doesn't seem like it will happen. I believe that we need to put more effort into trying to find a way to make it work and have both the US and South Korea satisfied.
Rice could doom U.S.-Korea trade deal: source

posted by Anonymous @ 10/06/2006 01:41:00 PM