Brussels, 16/05/2008 (Agence Europe) - At the 7th round of negotiations for an EU-South Korea free trade agreement (FTA) in Brussels on 12-15 May, negotiators agreed to speed up their talks in order to reach a conclusion before the end of 2008. Discussion covered a wide range of the most difficult negotiating issues, including non-tariff barriers and rules of origin, but neither side spoke of any significant breakthrough. “Both sides are convinced that, on the basis of the progress made during this round, it is feasible and desirable to conclude the EU-Korea FTA negotiations during the course of 2008,” EU chief negotiator Ignacio Garcia Bercero. “Both sides agree to accelerate the process so as to reach agreement as early as possible,” he went on. In a press release, the European Commission said that the both parties would maintain contact at various levels, including the meeting between European Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson and South Korean Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon. The Commission said that no time had been agreed for the next negotiating round. However, both sides had agreed to set it up as soon as they were ready to conclude. The Commission summarises the outcome thus: - the two sides made further progress on “behind the border” issues such as standards and certification requirements in a number of sectors; Korea also signalled its readiness to examine enhanced protection for geographical indications; - South Korea used this round to raise the question of the EU's rules of origin, which govern the import into the EU of products produced in more than one country; both sides achieved better understanding of the other's positions, and the EU intends to present a compromise proposal to South Korea; - the difficult questions of tariffs of industrial goods, including those on passenger cars, and the automotive non-tariff barriers were discussed by the two chief negotiators; the gap in the respective positions remains, but both sides recognise the need to come to a common understanding. (E.H.)