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Valerie Perez, dressed as Wonder Woman, looks for photo opportunities as she walks around Comic-Con International at the San Diego Convention Center, Thursday, July 20, 2006. Comic-Con, the nation's largest celebration of comic books and pop culture, runs through Sunday. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
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Washington Demands Seoul Abolish Tariff on Agricultural Products
It is reported that during the Free Trade Agreement talks that the US demanded Korea abolish tariffs on imported US agricultural products.
According to the report submitted to the Agriculture and Marine Fisheries Committee of the National Assembly, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry revealed yesterday that the US showed its discontent about Korea’s import quota management system, asserting abolishing tariffs on imported agricultural products
The Seoul administration has currently imposed tariffs on 15 agricultural items including rice, red pepper, garlic, onions, and sesame. This system is similar to the function of customs, and the World Trade Organization (WTO) considers the tariff system proper. In the event the tariff system is abolished, it is expected that the prices of imported agricultural products in the nation will lowered, which strongly influences prices of domestic agricultural products.
A source from the ministry said, “We are taking the position that a wide variety of import quota management systems should be accepted in accordance with products and market conditions. He added that the US also shows a negative view on Special Safe Guard (SSG) which is accepted by WTO, which finally caused the second round of FTA talks to not reach a unified agreement.
The ministry released a statement that is elucidating reasons behind the current standoff, refuting criticisms over the government's FTA drive, and reaffirming that the ministry will never yield to the US.
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 / 입력시간: 2006. 07.21. 09:02
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