The Korea Herald

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Canada says Korea FTA will boost beef producers

By Korea Herald

Published : March 12, 2014 - 20:40

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Canada and South Korea concluded negotiations on a free-trade deal that will give more market access for Canadian beef producers and phase out tariffs on cars made by Korean companies such as Hyundai Motor Co.

The agreement will boost Canadian exports to South Korea by one-third, adding an annual C$1.7 billion ($1.5 billion) to Canada’s economic output once the deal is fully implemented, said a Canadian official familiar with the contents of the agreement who spoke to reporters in Seoul, asking not to be named as he’s not authorized to speak publicly.

Korean carmakers will gain competitiveness in Canada over Japanese and European rivals, South Korea’s Deputy Trade Minister Choi Kyong Lim said Tuesday.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who met South Korean President Park Geun Hye in Seoul Wednesday, has stressed the need to diversify his country’s exports from the U.S., which bought 76 percent of Canada’s foreign shipments last year. (Bloomberg)