SEOUL, March 29 (UPI) -- South Korea and the United States moved close to a free-trade deal Thursday with a deadline just one day away, Seoul officials said.
"The two sides narrowed differences over some sensitive issues," said Deputy Commerce Minister Lee Jae-hoon, as negotiators continued to haggle Thursday over how to revise trade rules in agriculture and auto sectors.
Lee and other officials said they are striving to conclude the deal to meet a March 31 deadline. A final agreement may come Friday, they said.
The free-trade negotiations, which began in July 2006, have gone down to the wire as top trade officials from the two countries are involved in a make-or-break deal since early this week.
Officials said agriculture is the key stumbling block in the free-trade talks. South Korea says it would never further open its rice market, whereas the United States is demanding Seoul abolish import tariffs on U.S. beef.
