Monday May 28, 2012

JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

South Korea's parliament pass U.S. trade pact despite tear gas

World Nov. 23, 2011 - 06:45AM JST ( 8 )

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South Korea's parliament has approved a free trade agreement with the United States

Opposition party members scuffle with police outside the National Assembly building in Seoul ahead of a trade vote

US Under Secretary of State Wendy Sherman meets South Korean first vice Foreign Minister Park Suk-hwan in Seoul today

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8 Comments

2

Elbuda MexicanoNov. 23, 2011 - 11:55AM JST

If them Koreans can pass the TPP my guess is our Japanese amigos can also try to get their act together??
0

FoxieNov. 23, 2011 - 12:17PM JST

I think the Japanese should really get their act together. The Koreans seem to have a lot more common sense.
1

bookbagNov. 23, 2011 - 12:43PM JST

151-7. That is quite a landslide. Until you realize there are 299 members to the S.K. parliament. I cannot say how many were cheated out of their vote by the Machiavellian maneuver of calling a surprise session, but I can say that 148 lawmakers, nearly half, did not vote.

I am not sure if that is worth setting off a tear-gas canister and being labeled a terrorist. But then, I don't know how big the protests against the agreement were. They were big enough that water cannons were brought out though. I also note the deal has been long blocked. Seems it was strong-armed and weaseled through.
1

timeonNov. 23, 2011 - 12:45PM JST

setting off tear gas in the parliament, protesters clashing with police, analogy of the treaty with the Japan annexation, a weird display of "common sense"
-3

Michael Jun Sung ShimNov. 23, 2011 - 01:43PM JST

Japan benefits too a little bit from S Korea-U.S.A. Free Trade Agreement (FTA)!! For example Toyota's Sienna minivan vehicles assembled and made in U.S.A. can enter S Korean auto market tariff free unlike Toyotas made in Japan which are exported to S Korea with tariffs levied upon it..

But foreign autos despite their superior quality than Korean Hyundais will find Korean auto market hard to penetrate because more than 80~90% of Korea's auto market is Hyundais,Kias and other Korean brands..But I do think foreign auto sales in S Korea will defintely increase in terms of market % share although it will be impossible for foreign cars to dominate S Korean auto market at the expense of local Korean car makers..
-1

Hide SuzukiNov. 23, 2011 - 04:02PM JST

@Foxie "The Koreans seem to have a lot more common sense." Are you crazy ? Using tear gas in the parliament session means more common sense ?
0

Elbuda MexicanoNov. 23, 2011 - 05:06PM JST

Come on Hide! A little bit of tear gas?? Maybe Nagatacho could also use a bit more excitement like our funny amigos over in Seoul South Korea. Heck maybe even Beat Takeshi could learn some funny new tricks for J tv??
0

FoxieNov. 23, 2011 - 08:10PM JST

Hide, as Elbuda says, they didn't even use arsenic, sarin gas, pepper spray, spray paint etc. - very harmless indeed.