S. Korea, Australia to start free trade talks next week

(ATTN: ADDS trade figures in final two paras)
SEOUL, May 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and Australia have agreed to start talks on
a free trade agreement next week, officials here said Wednesday.
Trade ministers from the two nations will officially announce the start of free
trade negotiations on Monday in Australia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
Trade said in a statement.
The first round of negotiations will take place next week in Canberra, the
statement said.
Two-way trade reached US$23.2 billion last year with South Korea posting a
deficit of $12.8 billion, government statistics showed.
South Korea exported $5.2 billion of electronic goods and automobiles to
Australia, while importing $18 billion of crude oil, coal, iron ore and meat last
year.
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