Brussels, 03/04/2009 (Agence Europe) - Meeting on the sidelines of the G20 in London on 2 April, European Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton and her South-Korean counterpart, Kim Joing-hoon, were unable to smooth out their differences in order to finalise the bilateral free trade agreement between the EU and South Korea, which has been on the table since May 2007. Europeans and South-Koreans had announced at the end of March that they had reached a provisional agreement, stating that they would seek to conclude a final agreement at ministerial level on the sidelines of the G20. Although they welcomed the provisional agreement sealed at the end of the 8th session of talks between the chief negotiators for Europe, Ignacio Garcia Bercero, and South Korea, Lee Hye-min, and despite further progress on Thursday on outstanding issues, the ministers were unable to bring their views any closer on the most sensitive issue, that of “duty drawback”. “Ministers had substantive discussions to evaluate all possible options for a compromise on this issue. Despite these efforts, the gaps could not be narrowed”, a press release from the European Commission points out. Ms Ashton and Mr Kim agreed to report the result of their meeting to their respective constituencies and seek clearance to finalise negotiations. (E.H./transl.jl)