South Korea and Canada resumed their talks to conclude a free trade agreement in Seoul on Monday, ending their five-year deadlock in negotiations.
Choi Kyung-lim, deputy minister for trade, represented the Korean side while Ian Burney, assistant deputy minister for trade policy and negotiations, led the Canadian delegation.
It is the 14th round of FTA talks between the two countries since they launched negotiations in July 2005.
The two sides have held 13 rounds of talks, but failed to make progress due to their differences over thorny issues including Korea’s opening of agricultural and livestock products to Canada.
During the five-day negotiations, the two countries are expected to seek a breakthrough in their stalled negotiations, said an official from the Korean Trade Ministry.
Last year, South Korea exported goods worth $4.83 billion to Canada while the North American country shipped products worth $5.25 billion to Seoul.
