Source: Global Times

[Global Times Report by Jiang Ailing] According to Yonhap News Agency, the South Korean government refuted on the 30th the statement made by US Treasury Secretary Scott Buchheit that "South Korea hopes to establish a basic framework for trade negotiations before the presidential election," and reiterated that the South Korean side will not rush to advance the negotiations.

The report stated that Buchheit mentioned during a White House press conference on the 29th that the contours of the South Korean-US consultations were gradually becoming clear. In response to questions about whether factors such as South Korea's June 3rd presidential election and Japan's July upper house election could delay the negotiation process, Buchheit claimed, "These governments (referring to South Korea and Japan) hope to finalize the trade agreement framework before the election to show their domestic audiences that they are successfully advancing negotiations with the United States."

On the 29th local time, Buchheit held a briefing at the White House. Photo source: South Korean media report picture

Buchheit also added, "We found that they are actually more eager to sit down at the negotiating table first, get this done, and then start their campaign activities."

However, this claim was denied by the South Korean side. According to Yonhap News Agency's report on the 30th, the South Korean Ministry of Economy and Finance stated in its joint explanatory materials on the same day that "before the presidential election, South Korea has never conveyed or discussed with the United States the intention to finalize the trade negotiation framework and then proceed with the election activities."

The South Korean Ministry of Economy and Finance also stated that in the future negotiation process, the South Korean government will fully consider domestic political situations and communication with Congress, and reiterated that its position of not rushing to advance and steadily negotiating according to procedures has not changed.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7498898907645952564/

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