South Korea Excludes Public Services from US Free Trade Talks

Strategic Insights -

South Korea's government has announced that public-sector services, including electricity, water, gas, and railways, will be excluded from upcoming free trade talks with the United States. The decision was made to comply with FTA regulations that exempt public services closely connected with national security. Mandatory public education and national health insurances are also likely to be ruled out from the talks, although some educational sectors and medicine may be discussed. The US and South Korea have agreed to start main talks in Washington in June and the second round in Seoul in July.

Key Takeaways:

  • Public services such as electricity, water, gas, and railways will be excluded from the US-South Korea free trade talks.
  • The exclusion is based on FTA regulations that exempt public services closely connected with national security.
  • Mandatory public education and national health insurances are likely to be ruled out from the talks.
  • Some educational sectors and medicine may be discussed during the talks.
  • South Korea's chief negotiator, Kim Jong-hoon, has stated that there has been no case of the US demanding opening up these areas.
  • The US and South Korea have agreed to start main talks in Washington in June and the second round in Seoul in July.
  • Kim Jong-hoon will lead the second round of preparatory talks with US officials in Washington on a later date.

Statistics:

  • June: Start of main talks between the US and South Korea in Washington.
  • July: Second round of talks between the US and South Korea in Seoul.
  • No specific numbers or percentages mentioned in the article regarding the exclusion of public services or the scope of the talks.

Sources:

  • Yonhap News Agency
  • Seoul government official (interviewed by Yonhap News Agency)