S. Korea to hold public hearing on FTA renegotiation with U.S.
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South Korea will hold a public hearing next month on the renegotiation of a free trade pact with the United States, Seoul's trade ministry said Wednesday, as the two countries move to reset the terms at Washington's call.
The hearing on the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement (FTA), slated for Nov. 10, will be an opportunity to exchange public views and collect opinions from experts in the related fields, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said.
The public hearing is part of the legal procedure the government must take before it starts talks with its counterpart.
Seoul and Washington agreed early this month to begin the process to amend the trade pact, which U.S. President Donald Trump has called "a horrible deal" that contributes to his country's trade deficit.
The opinions gathered from the hearing will be reflected in the government's plan for the renegotiation, the ministry added.
The hearing will come on the heels of Trump's two-day visit to South Korea slated for Nov. 7-8 and meeting with President Moon Jae-in. The two state leaders are expected to talk over the issues of the FTA and North Korea.