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.