Time running out for the FTA?
Here. Americans sometimes observe that South Korea shouts for equal treatment while actually expecting to be treated like a coddled infant, and I’d cite the handicaps it demanded on the imports of cars and agricultural products as a good example to support that. Based on the two-faced behavior and unreasonable demands of the South Koreans throughout the FTA talks, the U.S. Trade Representative should have had the guts to walk away and wait for Roh’s clock to run out. Sadly, Washington tends to define success as reaching a deal, even a bad deal. And if the people you’re negotiating with know that you want a deal really badly, a really bad deal is what you’re going to get.
It’s enough to make you wonder how America’s finest diplomats would make out at the car dealership. Sure, you may say, Hyundais have gotten better. But what if I told you he drove onto the lot in an Alfa Romeo?
Economically, the ROK-US FTA is really managed trade, with too many carve-outs.
Politically, it’s a missed opportunity. But, it would be far more important politically, if the US convinced Seoul to sign a treaty with Japan through economic pressures.
Amen…