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2007/06/13 23:29 KST
Negotiators say Korea FTA vital to U.S. interests, but legislators sharply criticize

WASHINGTON, June 13 (Yonhap) -- Failure to include a free trade agreement (FTA) with emerging economies like South Korea "could have unfortunate consequences" for the United States, a senior U.S. trade negotiator said Wednesday.

"It would likely result in a shift of the region's (Asia's) attention away from strengthening their relationships with the United States to doing deals with other major trading partners," Karan Bhatia, deputy U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) said at a House hearing.