U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Ron Kirk announced today that the U.S.- Korea trade agreement will enter into force on March 15, 2012. Over President’s Day weekend, U.S. and Korean officials completed their review of each other’s laws and regulations relating to the implementation of the agreement and exchanged diplomatic notes. The diplomatic notes confirmed that each side had completed their legal requirements and procedures for the agreement’s entry into force.
According to the Office of the USTR, almost 80 percent of U.S. exports of industrial products to Korea will become duty-free when the U.S.-Korea trade agreement takes effect on March 15th. These products include aerospace equipment, agricultural equipment, auto parts, building products, chemicals, consumer goods, electrical equipment, environmental goods, all footwear and travel goods, paper products, scientific equipment, and shipping and transportation equipment. Furthermore, nearly two-thirds of U.S. exports of agricultural products to Korea will become duty-free on March 15th, including wheat, corn, soybeans for crushing, whey for feed use, hides and skins, cotton, cherries, pistachios, almonds, orange juice, grape juice, and wine.
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