Brussels, 26/02/2009 (Agence Europe) - The future bilateral EU-South Korea free trade agreement (FTA) was at the centre of discussions between Catherine Ashton and the German minister of finance, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg and his counterpart in the foreign affairs department, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, on Thursday 26 February in Berlin. The European commissioner for trade aimed to: convince German leaders, whose fears about their car industry is blocking the completion of an agreement, (hoped for in March, following the progress accomplished since December to reduce divergences between Europeans and South Koreans on two difficult dossiers - liberalisation of the trade in cars and rules of origin), to give their go-ahead for the conclusion of negotiations. As well as Germany, several other member states, including France and Italy, are reluctant to get rid of Community taxes on South Korean vehicle imports, just when the European auto-industry is being hit hard by the economic crisis. After several information meetings and discussions at the 133 Committee (this committee brings together trade experts from member states), including the last unfruitful session on 20 February, with the European Commission chief negotiator, Ignacio, Garcia Bercero, the EU27 have still not reached a compromise on the agreement with South Korea, whose expected profits are estimated to be more than $100bn. Suffering from the full effects of the crisis, European car manufacturers are afraid that they will not get anything in return for the agreement, whilst their access to South Korea is severely hampered by bureaucratic restrictions. Ms Ashton, who is planning on the FTA to be formally signed at the EU-South Korea summit planned for the end of March, is hoping to find a compromise with Berlin before the 133 Committee meets on 6 March. (E.H./transl.rh)