South Korea, U.S. Agree on Trade Pact

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Associated Press

South Korea, U.S. Agree on Trade Pact

Friday June 29, 6:15 AM EDT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea and the United States agreed Friday on final changes to their pending free trade agreement, clearing the last hurdle to the fast approaching deadline to sign the deal as thousands of workers took to the streets in protest.

South Korea has "decided to accept a U.S. proposal to change the agreement" to reflect new U.S. guidelines calling for stricter labor and environmental standards for free trade deals, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said.

South Korean Trade Minister Kim Hyun-chong and U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab will sign the agreement on June 30 in Washington, the ministry said.

The two sides need to sign the deal by then for it to be considered by Congress under President George W. Bush's expiring special trade authority.


Read more: http://money.excite.com/jsp/nw/nwdt_rt_top.jsp?news_id=ap-d8q2do301&

[Nutmegger]

1. More free trade junk.

:puke:

:kick:

[nolabels]

2. Perhaps not so quick and maybe the camel is sticking his nose inside the tent

One would think that * bots will never agree to much compromise probably and also think this whole piece of garbage will get trashed just by simple politics

South Korea, U.S. agree on trade pact
By KELLY OLSEN
(snip)
The United States needed to amend the deal to incorporate stricter labor and environmental guidelines agreed to by the new Democratic majority in Congress and the Bush administration for free trade deals.

The accord is the largest for the United States since the North American Free Trade Agreement more than a decade ago, and the largest ever for South Korea.

The two governments say slashing tariffs and other trade barriers will boost commerce between the allies. Opponents, however, say the deal will squeeze workers in both countries.

The Korean Metal Workers' Union, South Korea's largest, planned to walk off the job for a second day Friday in opposition to the free trade deal.
(Associated Press Writer Jae-Soon Chang in Seoul contributed to this report.)
(snip)
http://www.kentucky.com/473/story/109999.html

Probably just a fake feel good financial story used for filler and in fact just ceremonial B.S. by nature . Them Wall Street bears are probably pretty hungry :shrug: