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Image header Agence Europe
Europe Daily Bulletin No. 9427
Contents Publication in full By article 13 / 38
GENERAL NEWS / (eu) eu/south korea/trade

Gentle first round of talks on free trade agreement

Brussels, 15/05/2007 (Agence Europe) - Last week's first round of negotiations in Seoul on a bilateral free trade agreement between the EU and South Korea went “smoothly”, said South Korean chief negotiator Kim Han-Soo, noting, however, that he could not vouch for the remainder of the talks going as well. “We expect that there will be quite a number of difficulties that will come up in the remaining rounds,” he told press, before adding: “Our common goal is to get these negotiations concluded quickly”. European and South Korean negotiators will meet again in Brussels from 16-20 July. According to Reuters, EU chief negotiator Ignacio Garcia Bercero said that, at the next round, the two sides will exchange offers on tariff duties. The motor vehicle sector is a major issue in negotiations, with the EU wanting greater openings in the heavily protected South Korean automotive market and South Korea wanting better access to the European market for its motor vehicle exports, as well as its electronic equipment and textiles. (eh)

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