Chosun Ilbo | Oct. 27, 2010
Korea's FTA negotiation strategy leaked to US
The National Intelligence Service is investigating the leak of confidential documents containing Korea's strategy for additional FTA negotiations to the U.S., a senior government source said Tuesday.
The documents contain key information on areas of dispute in the automotive sector between the two sides, including fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions. "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade learned during additional talks with Washington that U.S. officials were unusually familiar with our government's position in terms of automotive environmental regulations and reported the matter to Cheong Wa Dae," the source said. Cheong Wa Dae "felt this was a serious intelligence breach and ordered the NIS to investigate."
Another government source said Seoul found itself at a greater-than-expected disadvantage in the talks due to the leak. Based on its investigation so far, the NIS believes the documents, prepared by the Environment Ministry, were handed over by the Knowledge Economy Ministry to a Korean carmaker and from there found its way to a foreign carmaker. The NIS has apparently found evidence connecting the Knowledge Economy Ministry with the leak.
It appears the Knowledge Economy Ministry "obtained documents regarding acceptable fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas emission levels from the Environment Ministry and, either intentionally or by mistake, handed them over to a carmaker," the source said. When asked about the leak, a Knowledge Economy Ministry official said, "I'm unable to confirm anything."
The documents detail the Korean government's overall plans for greenhouse gas and fuel efficiency standards for the automotive industry to be used in negotiations with U.S. officials. They include Seoul's offer to waive environmental regulations for three years for automakers whose annual domestic sales total less than 1,000 units and to ease them for carmakers who sell between 1,000 to 4,500 cars in Korea a year.
