Export barriers, autos among topics discussed at KORUS meeting

Officials from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative discussed proposals to address export barriers and industrial goods, including automobiles and auto parts, on Friday during a bilateral meeting under the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement.    Officials from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) discussed proposals to address export barriers and industrial goods, including automobiles and auto parts, during a bilateral meeting held Friday in Washington under the U.S.-Korea (KORUS) Free Trade Agreement, according to a USTR recap of the meeting.
   Both sides “engaged on their priority areas” during the daylong session, USTR said, continuing to also push in the statement the Trump administration’s message that it is seeking “fair and reciprocal trade.”
   Michael Beeman, assistant U.S. trade representative for Japan, Korea and APEC, led the U.S. delegation; and Myung-hee Yoo, South Korean Trade Ministry director general, led the Korean delegation.
   “We have much work to do to reach an agreement that serves the economic interests of the American people,” U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said in a statement at the conclusion of Friday’s session. “Our goals are clear: We must achieve fair and reciprocal trade between our two nations. We will move forward as expeditiously as possible to achieve this goal.”
   The U.S. and South Korea agreed to follow up to discuss timing for the next bilateral meeting “in the very near term,” the USTR said.
   Lighthizer initiated talks in July for the U.S. and South Korea to consider KORUS amendments and modifications to address market access and the U.S. trade deficit with the country.
   The two governments had held previous KORUS special sessions on Aug. 22, and Oct. 4.