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Korean Ambassador in East Lansing to push free trade agreement

By Scott Pohl, WKAR

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkar/local-wkar-919352.mp3

EAST LANSING, MI –

South Korea's Ambassador to the United States was in East Lansing today to promote a free trade agreement between the two countries.

WKAR's Scott Pohl reports.

AUDIO: Republic of Korea Ambassador Han Duk-soo says the US-Korea Free Trade Agreement would expand trade opportunities for American businesses, but the pact has not been ratified by Congress.

The Ambassador says two-thirds of the items exported by the U.S. to South Korea would become tariff-free.

He's pushing for ratification soon.

"It was negotiated three years ago," the Ambassador says, "but the real merits of this agreement were not fully taken advantage of by U-S businesses."

Critics of the free trade agreement say it doesn't do enough to ensure that the Korean market is open to U-S auto companies. President Obama wants the details ironed out by November to allow for passage early next year.

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