[SCA]71.Korea-E.U. F.T.A.

[방명근]

Korea-E.U. F.T.A.

In the next few months, European Union governments will have to decide whether to ratify(승인하다) a free-trade agreement with Korea.

The E.U.'s external-trade directorate describes the deal as "one of the most ambitious and complete deals" it has ever signed.

However, the F.T.A., which took many rounds of tough negotiations, is also deeply controversial(논쟁의).

The most strident opposition (거친 반대) has come from the car industry.

Europe's carmakers say they support free trade but do not believe that the agreement in its present form delivers it. Korean vehicle exports to the E.U. reached a peak of around 700,000 a year few years ago.

In contrast, European annual sales to Korea have averaged just 32,500 in the past four years.

There are still several hurdles the F.T.A. must overcome before it is ratified.

Unfortunately for European car firms, the chances of more than minor tweaks(수정) before the F.T.A. is passed are slim(~의 가능성이 적다).

(Source: The Economist; July 8, 2010; "One-Way Street")

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