The United States and South Korea recently concluded a comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA) that stands to bring important commercial, economic, political and strategic benefits to the two countries. If ratified, the agreement would eliminate tariffs on nearly 95 percent of consumer and industrial product trade within three years of entry into force and add some $20 billion to bilateral trade. Immediate benefactors of the deal include U.S. farmers and South Korean automobile manufactures, but are there downsides? Will Japan be shut out of lucrative trade opportunities with the U.S.? What are the prospects of a U.S.-Japan FTA? Lead U.S. negotiator for the agreement, Wendy Cutler, Assistant United States Trade Representative for Japan, Korea and APEC Affairs, discusses the bilateral benefits associated with the FTA, and implications for U.S.-Japan trade. 

co-presented with Japan Society

 

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