Comments on: An FTA After All? http://freekorea.us/2009/11/19/an-fta-after-all/ Wed, 23 May 2012 10:34:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: kushibo http://freekorea.us/2009/11/19/an-fta-after-all/comment-page-1/#comment-69627 kushibo Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:40:14 +0000 http://www.freekorea.us/2009/11/19/an-fta-after-all/#comment-69627 I could see Lee giving in on Kaesŏng as a bargaining chip of some sort, but even if he doesn't, I think this should go through. The KCTU will raise a huge stink — maybe the hugest ever — but it a swan song of sorts because it may be the last time they can do this on US-related trade issues, a favorite rallying point of the <em>chinboistas</em>. That in and of itself — taking the opening of markets with the US <em>off the table</em> as a perennial issue — makes it worth it. It will curtail opportunities to manufacture anti-American sentiment among the non-true believers to a high degree. The other thing that makes it worth it: Lots of money to be made and jobs to be created on both sides. I could see Lee giving in on Kaesŏng as a bargaining chip of some sort, but even if he doesn’t, I think this should go through.

The KCTU will raise a huge stink — maybe the hugest ever — but it a swan song of sorts because it may be the last time they can do this on US-related trade issues, a favorite rallying point of the chinboistas. That in and of itself — taking the opening of markets with the US off the table as a perennial issue — makes it worth it. It will curtail opportunities to manufacture anti-American sentiment among the non-true believers to a high degree.

The other thing that makes it worth it: Lots of money to be made and jobs to be created on both sides.

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