Chile currently has FTAs with 28 countries, of which Korea is the only trading partner that has been unable to pass its FTA bill (and the only FTA in progress for Korea), due to resistance from farmers and civic groups.
Chile can now understand the life of trading with Korea.
And Korea is starting to feel the effects of its conditioned response to foreign trade long developed through its relationship with the US.
I thought, and there is still a chance, Korea might be able to switch gears in its trade style when dealing with other nations - besides the US.
But it seems not. It seems they are going to apply the same kind of negociating tactics and agreement following they are used to.
At the recent WTO talks, I'm sure some of these nations like Chile didn't walk away with a very good feeling about South Korea when they listened to them say over and over "We're a third world nation....(in agriculture)!"
If Korea keeps dealing with these economically weaker nations the same way it does the US --- and the way it has worked the FTA with Chile ---
it will quickly wear out its welcome in those less developed nations.
it will quickly wear out its welcome in those less developed nations.
The US has conditioned itself to accept South Korea's bullshit over the long years of development and security ties.
China, on the other hand, thumped South Korea hard during the Garlic War --- telling SK if it expected to make hundreds of millions of dollars on high end exports to China, it had damn well better learn to accept some loss in garlic and agriculture.
Chile and other nations South Korea is going to try FTAs with don't have the muscle to twist SK's arm like China.
But once South Korea erodes the relatively good will of these economically smaller nations, Korea will pay the price.
China, on the other hand, thumped South Korea hard during the Garlic War --- telling SK if it expected to make hundreds of millions of dollars on high end exports to China, it had damn well better learn to accept some loss in garlic and agriculture.
Chile and other nations South Korea is going to try FTAs with don't have the muscle to twist SK's arm like China.
But once South Korea erodes the relatively good will of these economically smaller nations, Korea will pay the price.
