Farmers on edge as signing of Korea-Chile FTA nears

Korean farmers fear the worst as negotiations between Korea and Chile on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) are reportedly making great headway. According to farmers` groups and other experts, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry drew up a final proposal for the negotiations and held consultations with farmers` groups Thursday. Korea and Chile are scheduled to wrap up talks on the FTA at their fifth meeting, to be held early next month. The two countries plan to abolish all tariffs within 10 years, including those in the agricultural sector.

If signed, the FTA is expected to favorably affect the nation1s exports to Chile, but Korean farmers will suffer great damage due to the influx of Chilean products armed with global competitiveness in quality and price. Farmers` groups, including the National Farmers Group Council, are demanding that the government either suspend the talks or delay discussions on certain agricultural products until after the World Trade Organization`s New Round negotiations.

Sin Yeon-Su ysshin@donga.com