ID :
39484
Thu, 01/08/2009 - 05:44
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/39484
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Microsoft urges Obama to help approve Korea FTA
By Hwang Doo-hyong
WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 (Yonhap) -- Microsoft has called for the incoming Barack Obama
administration to push ahead with ratification of the pending free trade deal
with South Korea.
"Microsoft supports rapid passage of the bilateral Free Trade Area Agreements
(FTAs) now pending with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea and the conclusion of
WTO Doha Round," the U.S. software giant said in a policy recommendation to the
Obama transition team.
In a policy report titled "The IT Industry Depends on Fair Trade and Open
Markets," Microsoft said, "Korea, by far the most significant of the FTAs in
economic terms, establishes a foothold for the U.S. in Asia and ensures that a
key market is committed to transparency and regulatory due process, along with
expanding trade opportunities for the IT sector."
"Trade liberalization, when accompanied by strong rules and a commitment to
enforcement, is good for America," it said. "Staying on the sidelines is not the
answer to how to enhance our competitiveness vis-a-vis Europe and Asia."
Obama has called the South Korea FTA "badly flawed," saying that nation exports
more than 700,000 automobiles to the U.S. annually while buying only about 6,000
U.S vehicles.
South Korean officials, however, challenge those figures, saying the "export"
total includes 250,000 units made at an Alabama plant by South Korea's largest
automaker, Hyundai.
The figures cited by Obama also do not include more than 125,000 automobiles sold
in South Korea by GM Daewoo, a Korean subsidiary of GM, they said.
Obama and his aides have said they oppose the South Korea FTA as it stands, but
stopped short of favoring renegotiation of the bilateral FTA.
Some say Obama's opposition has been more of a campaign strategy to woo votes
from trade unions, which are among his main political supporters, and hope that
Obama will be able to win support from the Democratic-controlled Congress.
Others say FTA ratification with South Korea, one of its strongest allies, would
help the U.S. consolidate its foothold in Asia.
Despite a majority of congressional Democrats opposing the trade deal, diplomats
here say the deal will likely be approved with ease once put to a vote. They say
some Democrats as well as Republicans favor the free trade deal with South Korea,
the seventh-biggest trading partner of the U.S.
hdh@yna.co.kr
(END)
WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 (Yonhap) -- Microsoft has called for the incoming Barack Obama
administration to push ahead with ratification of the pending free trade deal
with South Korea.
"Microsoft supports rapid passage of the bilateral Free Trade Area Agreements
(FTAs) now pending with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea and the conclusion of
WTO Doha Round," the U.S. software giant said in a policy recommendation to the
Obama transition team.
In a policy report titled "The IT Industry Depends on Fair Trade and Open
Markets," Microsoft said, "Korea, by far the most significant of the FTAs in
economic terms, establishes a foothold for the U.S. in Asia and ensures that a
key market is committed to transparency and regulatory due process, along with
expanding trade opportunities for the IT sector."
"Trade liberalization, when accompanied by strong rules and a commitment to
enforcement, is good for America," it said. "Staying on the sidelines is not the
answer to how to enhance our competitiveness vis-a-vis Europe and Asia."
Obama has called the South Korea FTA "badly flawed," saying that nation exports
more than 700,000 automobiles to the U.S. annually while buying only about 6,000
U.S vehicles.
South Korean officials, however, challenge those figures, saying the "export"
total includes 250,000 units made at an Alabama plant by South Korea's largest
automaker, Hyundai.
The figures cited by Obama also do not include more than 125,000 automobiles sold
in South Korea by GM Daewoo, a Korean subsidiary of GM, they said.
Obama and his aides have said they oppose the South Korea FTA as it stands, but
stopped short of favoring renegotiation of the bilateral FTA.
Some say Obama's opposition has been more of a campaign strategy to woo votes
from trade unions, which are among his main political supporters, and hope that
Obama will be able to win support from the Democratic-controlled Congress.
Others say FTA ratification with South Korea, one of its strongest allies, would
help the U.S. consolidate its foothold in Asia.
Despite a majority of congressional Democrats opposing the trade deal, diplomats
here say the deal will likely be approved with ease once put to a vote. They say
some Democrats as well as Republicans favor the free trade deal with South Korea,
the seventh-biggest trading partner of the U.S.
hdh@yna.co.kr
(END)
