Comments on: Let’s Wait for FTA Details

By: Sperwer

Sperwer — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 13:21:18 +0000

Koreans pay at least 400% of the world price for domestic rice.

By: Hater Depot

Hater Depot — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 11:18:43 +0000

If the tariff on popcorn is that high what is it on rice??

By: Quietly Optimistic about ROK-US FTA : Left Flank

Quietly Optimistic about ROK-US FTA : Left Flank — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 12:41:40 +0000

[...] I told them, like Dram Man, I was skeptical before I knew the details. I eschewed the opportunity to lecture on comparative advantage. Instead, I told them when they [...]

By: Brendon Carr

Brendon Carr — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 00:43:26 +0000

The proposed legal market opening is rather significant, in that it appears to aim for a level of opening similar to that of Japan — on a five-year timetable instead of the 20-25 years that Japan took. The Japanese legal profession has not been wiped out, just transformed within the layer that has contact with the global economy. One might expect the same sort of benign effect on the Korean legal profession — Seocho-dong will continue as before, but the Kwanghwamun-area (and now Yeoksam-to-Samsung-dong) law firms may see consolidations and disintegrations. Just like any other industry.

But, alas, I am with the seouldout/Sperwer faction — the rest of the FTA terms as they have been disclosed in the media appear to give the Koreans everything they want right now, while achieving too little opening for US interests (and most of it dribbled out over a long, long time). Hopefully Congress will give it a thorough review before the vote. Rejection by the US Congress might be the kick in the pants that Korea needs to get shaken out of its bad habits.

Too bad that the European Union (next on the FTA agenda) would be the beneficiary of that.

By: Sperwer

Sperwer — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 00:36:50 +0000

I don’t see any genuine commitment from Korea to move from its mercantilist inclinations. Just lots of yes-but sidesteps. And we’ll see the same under this “FTA”. It’s habitual. And such behavior only encourages shenanigans from others. Someone ought to draw the line at being played for the sucker.

The US Congress ought to walk away from the deal. I’m not a Democrat, but with this deal on the table I hope their protectionist sentiments prevail.

Hear him.

By: jonnyh

jonnyh — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 22:40:23 +0000

Jeeezis! A little bit over the top with that hyperbole, Mr. Dram. I even find myself agreeing with Pawi. Are you upset because some of those 2nd graders, 6th graders and hippie Canucks can spell? Anyway, thanks for sharing your amazing insights with the rest of us ignorami. We await your suspended judgment with bated breath.

By: slim

slim — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 12:25:13 +0000

I don’t see much change coming in the way things are done in Korea.

Chosun Ilbo: It’s too bad that 88 service industries, including education and medical services, were left out of the market-opening measures. There were hopes that the Korea-U.S. FTA would make Korea’s service sector more competitive. The educational and medical service sectors were excluded from the list, because the United States did not request an opening of those markets, while other service industries were excluded due to fierce protest from workers.

By: seouldout

seouldout — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 12:10:09 +0000

So Korea is a founding member of the WTO, is the world’s 11th largest economy, and can tax popcorn 630%!? For what purpose? Protect sae-oo-gang?

The kicker is the high tariffs on items that Korea doesn’t grow/produce or few eat. Cherries and Blue Stilton, two of my favorites, for example. (Yes, Blue Stilton is English, and it isn’t covered by this FTA )

A strong belief in genuine free trade I have. I even appreciate the benefits of managed trade when free trade can’t be achieved. Reading the USTR report linked to above I don’t see any genuine commitment from Korea to move from its mercantilist inclinations. Just lots of yes-but sidesteps. And we’ll see the same under this “FTA”. It’s habitual. And such behavior only encourages shenanigans from others. Someone ought to draw the line at being played for the sucker.

The US Congress ought to walk away from the deal. I’m not a Democrat, but with this deal on the table I hope their protectionist sentiments prevail.

By: Robert Koehler

Robert Koehler — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 11:26:31 +0000

100 word Korean press account written at a 6th grade English level by a reporter with a 2nd grader’s understanding of economics and international trade and edited by hippie Canadian with a mail-order masters degree in “International Medieval Interpretive Dance Studies”.

That’s mean. Funny, but mean.

By: pawikirogi

pawikirogi — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 11:21:52 +0000

So given the tilt of the issue, and specifically the Korean press’s methods, I will withhold my judgment. Right now most of the reporting seems to be a fever swamp of nationalism and hysteria… I will withold my judgement…. What I am really waiting for is the text of the agreement. I will withhold my judgement.. can be encapsulated in a 100 word Korean press account written at a 6th grade English level by a reporter with a 2nd grader’s understanding of economics and international trade and edited by hippie Canadian with a mail-order masters degree in “International Medieval Interpretive Dance Studies”… I will withhold my judgement..” quotes from dram man

i will withhold my judgement.

訥祗麻立干