South Korea said Monday that it has decided to set up a presidential advisory committee on its move to forge a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States, as their related talks have stalled due to differences in the pharmaceutical sector.
President Roh Moo-hyun has appointed Han Duck-soo, the country's former finance minister, to lead the organization to be composed of government officials, business leaders, experts and civic group activists, Roh's spokesman Jung Tae-ho said.
"The committee is to collect public opinion on the South Korea-U.S. FTA and encourage sound discussions, as well as head off the wasteful division of public opinion, by providing the people with exact facts and information," he told reporters.
Han will also serve as President Roh's special advisor on the FTA, Jung added.
South Korea and the U.S. started formal negotiations on the issue last month, with the goal of signing the deal within a year.
Seoul's decision to form the presidential body came two weeks after U.S. negotiators boycotted the last day of the second round of talks here, citing South Korea's "unacceptable" drug pricing policy.
The South Korean government has also come under increasing pressure at home to make the negotiation process more transparent.
Local civic groups, advocating the rights of farmers and laborers, have staunchly protested the plan to forge the FTA, saying it would harm the livelihoods of the underprivileged
Seoul, July 24 (Yonhap News)
Seoul forms presidential body to facilitate FTA deal with Washington |
