ROK,US agree on final version of FTA

The Republic of Korea (ROK) and the United States agreed on Friday on final changes to their pending free trade agreement (FTA), clearing the last hurdle to the fast approaching deadline to sign the deal as thousands of workers took to the streets in protest.

The ROK has "decided to accept a US proposal to change the agreement" to reflect new US guidelines calling for stricter labor and environmental standards for free trade deals, the ROK's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said.

ROK Trade Minister Kim Hyun-chong and US Trade Representative Susan Schwab will sign the agreement on Saturday in Washington, the ministry said.