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성 김 주한 미 (美) 대사는 3월 20일 미상공회의소 회원들과의 간담회에서 한국이 한-미 FTA 이행에 있어 변화를 보여야 환태평양경제동반자협정 (TPP) 가입에 미국의 지원을 받을 수 있을 것이라는 뜻을 전해 주목을 받았다.
김 대사는 “대한민국의 한-미FTA의 완전한 이행이 수반될 때 한국은 가입 부분에 있어서 더 많은 협력과 이행을 받을 수 있을 것입니다“라며 지금까지 미국 통상부의 공식적인 입장 표명이 없던 와중에 미국 관료로서는 처음으로 TPP와 FTA를 연결시켜 미국 정부의 의견을 전달했다.
지난 3월14일 2주년을 맞은 한-미FTA는 2012년 조약체결 당시 미국 경제계에서 미국이 얻은 것보다 잃은 것이 더 많다는 볼멘 소리들이 터져나왔다.
2013년 12월 과 2014년 3월, 두 차례에 걸쳐 워싱턴에 있는 미국상공회의소 아시아 지부부회장 태미 오버비 또한 “ FTA의 완전하고도 신실한 이행”이 미국이 주도하고 있는 TPP가입의 선결조건이 될 것이라 말한 바 있다. 오버비는 비관세장벽과 자동차 분야를 대표적인 문제점으로 꼽았다.
김 대사는 “저는 이 부분에 대해 관심을 가지고 지켜보고 있습니다. (FTA가) 문자부터 시작해 이행까지 완전히 실행될 때 아마 수지도 개선될 것이라 생각합니다”라고 말했다.
이번주에 암참 회원단이 워싱턴을 방문하여 정치인들을 비롯한 여러 관련 단체에 고충을 털어놓을 것이며, FTA관련 이슈가 빠질 수 없다는 것이 전망이다.
(코리아헤럴드 배지숙 기자)
<관련 영문기사>
U.S. envoy turns heat up on Korea over FTA
The U.S. government on Thursday turned up the heat on the South Korean government to make changes in its implementation of the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement in order to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
“We welcome Korea’s interest in becoming part of the TPP. With the full implementation of the FTA, it will receive much stronger support in future deliberations and consultation,” said U.S. Ambassador to Korea Sung Kim, at the American Chamber of Commerce meeting.
This is the first time a U.S. governmental official has officially mentioned that the Korea-U.S. FTA can be a precondition for TPP membership.
The Office of United States Trade Representatives in charge of the FTA talks has remained silent amid complaints from U.S. businessmen in Korea that the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement ― which came into effect on March 14, 2012 ― has widened the trade deficit in Korea’s favor. There have been complaints in the U.S. that South Korea is not implementing some of its FTA commitments as rapidly or effectively as hoped.
“I am very concerned about the issue. I am hopeful that with full implementation of the agreement in both letters and spirit, the numbers will improve,” Kim explained.
U.S. businessmen have been demanding that Seoul commit to what they call “full implementation of the FTA.”
In December 2013 and last week, Tami Overby, vice president for Asia at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said at a forum in Washington that “full and faithful implementation” of the FTA was needed before Seoul can join the U.S.-led economic partnership. She cited non-customs barriers and automobiles as hindrance.
Next week, AMCHAM members are scheduled to visit Washington to deliver their concerns to the American political scene and such issues are expected to be raised.
Kim, who is the first U.S. ambassador of Korean-American heritage, also urged North Korea to stop its provocations.
“We have witnessed North Korea continue to improve its missile capability ... recently firing short-range missiles off its east coast. We call on North Korea to cease provocative behavior,” he said.
Kim assured that the U.S. stands with Korea in deterring and defending against any aggression, referring to North’s third nuclear weapons test last year and the recent launch of short-range missiles.
“We will continue to coordinate closely with South Korea and our allies and partners to make North Korea make the right choices on denuclearization to build lasting peace on the peninsula,” he said.
By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)
U.S. envoy turns heat up on Korea over FTA
The U.S. government on Thursday turned up the heat on the South Korean government to make changes in its implementation of the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement in order to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
“We welcome Korea’s interest in becoming part of the TPP. With the full implementation of the FTA, it will receive much stronger support in future deliberations and consultation,” said U.S. Ambassador to Korea Sung Kim, at the American Chamber of Commerce meeting.
This is the first time a U.S. governmental official has officially mentioned that the Korea-U.S. FTA can be a precondition for TPP membership.
The Office of United States Trade Representatives in charge of the FTA talks has remained silent amid complaints from U.S. businessmen in Korea that the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement ― which came into effect on March 14, 2012 ― has widened the trade deficit in Korea’s favor. There have been complaints in the U.S. that South Korea is not implementing some of its FTA commitments as rapidly or effectively as hoped.
“I am very concerned about the issue. I am hopeful that with full implementation of the agreement in both letters and spirit, the numbers will improve,” Kim explained.
U.S. businessmen have been demanding that Seoul commit to what they call “full implementation of the FTA.”
In December 2013 and last week, Tami Overby, vice president for Asia at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said at a forum in Washington that “full and faithful implementation” of the FTA was needed before Seoul can join the U.S.-led economic partnership. She cited non-customs barriers and automobiles as hindrance.
Next week, AMCHAM members are scheduled to visit Washington to deliver their concerns to the American political scene and such issues are expected to be raised.
Kim, who is the first U.S. ambassador of Korean-American heritage, also urged North Korea to stop its provocations.
“We have witnessed North Korea continue to improve its missile capability ... recently firing short-range missiles off its east coast. We call on North Korea to cease provocative behavior,” he said.
Kim assured that the U.S. stands with Korea in deterring and defending against any aggression, referring to North’s third nuclear weapons test last year and the recent launch of short-range missiles.
“We will continue to coordinate closely with South Korea and our allies and partners to make North Korea make the right choices on denuclearization to build lasting peace on the peninsula,” he said.
By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)
