ID :
68641
Thu, 07/02/2009 - 13:27
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Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/68641
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Japan, S. Korea struggle to fully resume stalled free trade talks
TOKYO, July 1 Kyodo -
Japan and South Korea struggled to fully resume their stalled free trade talks
at an upgraded working-level meeting Wednesday as the two sides apparently
remained cautious about making bold moves to narrow their differences.
Officials at the deputy director general level charged with foreign, trade,
agricultural and financial affairs met for the first time to prepare for a
resumption of formal talks, exchanging opinions on issues ranging from current
conditions to the merits of a possible bilateral accord.
But they fell short of reaching any concrete results, only agreeing to continue
talks. The schedule of the next meeting has yet to be decided.
''We were able to deepen our understanding toward resuming the talks,'' a
Japanese Foreign Ministry official told reporters after the meeting in Tokyo.
Japan claimed that expanding bilateral trade would benefit not only the
competitiveness of both countries but economic prosperity in East Asia, while
South Korea called for intense discussions on issues such as market access,
nontariff barriers and public procurement, Japanese officials said.
The two countries launched talks for a free trade accord in 2003 but soon hit a
snag due to such issues as the abolition of tariffs. After their sixth meeting
in 2004, they broke off the negotiations.
Momentum returned after former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and South
Korean President Lee Myung Bak reached an agreement in April 2008 that led to a
series of director-level meetings the same year.
Lee and current Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso confirmed the need to upgrade
the working-level meeting when they held talks Sunday in Tokyo.
But sources close to the negotiations said both Japan and South Korea do not
appear ready to shift from their earlier positions so there are unlikely to be
tangible results.
South Korea remains sensitive about opening up its market to Japanese products,
given strong opposition from domestic business leaders over its swelling trade
deficit with Japan, the sources said.
Meanwhile, Japan cannot easily accept Seoul's demand that Tokyo should import
more agricultural and fishery products from South Korea.
''South Korean officials seem to be putting priority on completing free trade
agreements with the United States and the European Union, which have recently
come within reach,'' an official in the Japanese delegation said.
The Japan Business Federation, the country's largest business lobby, has
pressed for a free trade accord with South Korea as part of its policy to
create a network of such agreements in Asia.
''We are neighbors. So it's natural to seek a free trade agreement,'' said the
official. ''However, there seems to be a very long way to go.''
==Kyodo
Japan and South Korea struggled to fully resume their stalled free trade talks
at an upgraded working-level meeting Wednesday as the two sides apparently
remained cautious about making bold moves to narrow their differences.
Officials at the deputy director general level charged with foreign, trade,
agricultural and financial affairs met for the first time to prepare for a
resumption of formal talks, exchanging opinions on issues ranging from current
conditions to the merits of a possible bilateral accord.
But they fell short of reaching any concrete results, only agreeing to continue
talks. The schedule of the next meeting has yet to be decided.
''We were able to deepen our understanding toward resuming the talks,'' a
Japanese Foreign Ministry official told reporters after the meeting in Tokyo.
Japan claimed that expanding bilateral trade would benefit not only the
competitiveness of both countries but economic prosperity in East Asia, while
South Korea called for intense discussions on issues such as market access,
nontariff barriers and public procurement, Japanese officials said.
The two countries launched talks for a free trade accord in 2003 but soon hit a
snag due to such issues as the abolition of tariffs. After their sixth meeting
in 2004, they broke off the negotiations.
Momentum returned after former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and South
Korean President Lee Myung Bak reached an agreement in April 2008 that led to a
series of director-level meetings the same year.
Lee and current Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso confirmed the need to upgrade
the working-level meeting when they held talks Sunday in Tokyo.
But sources close to the negotiations said both Japan and South Korea do not
appear ready to shift from their earlier positions so there are unlikely to be
tangible results.
South Korea remains sensitive about opening up its market to Japanese products,
given strong opposition from domestic business leaders over its swelling trade
deficit with Japan, the sources said.
Meanwhile, Japan cannot easily accept Seoul's demand that Tokyo should import
more agricultural and fishery products from South Korea.
''South Korean officials seem to be putting priority on completing free trade
agreements with the United States and the European Union, which have recently
come within reach,'' an official in the Japanese delegation said.
The Japan Business Federation, the country's largest business lobby, has
pressed for a free trade accord with South Korea as part of its policy to
create a network of such agreements in Asia.
''We are neighbors. So it's natural to seek a free trade agreement,'' said the
official. ''However, there seems to be a very long way to go.''
==Kyodo
